Q3 - reaching
This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales
This question is on the bottom of page 9 of the form - see what it looks like
How to answer the question
This question is about whether you can reach up with either arm, above waist height. It isn't about reaching down or to the side.
Think about whether it's hard for you to:
wash or brush your hair
dress your top half
hang out washing
get something out of a high cupboard
Don't feel embarrassed about your answers - if you find it hard to raise your arms it's important for the DWP to know this.
"Can you lift at least one of your arms high enough as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket while you're wearing it?"
No
Yes
It varies
When deciding how to answer it might help to think about:
how difficult you find it to reach to a pocket
whether you could do it more than once, and what would happen if you tried to do it repeatedly
whether reaching to a jacket pocket would cause you pain, how severe that pain is, and how it would affect you
"Can you lift one of your arms above your head?"
No
Yes
It varies
When deciding how to answer it might help to think about:
how difficult you find it
whether it would cause you pain, how severe the pain is, and how it would affect you
whether you could do it more than once, and what would happen if you tried to do it repeatedly
What to write in the box
It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.
Use the blank box to explain what happens when you try to raise your arms. For example:
if you always struggle, or if the way your condition affects you changes - for example 4 out of 7 days
how it feels when you try to raise your arms
if it causes you pain, how severe the pain is and how it affects you
if you need help from someone else for certain things - like washing your hair
how often you need help, and what you need help doing
if you have good days and bad days, and how they differ
what happens if you try to reach up on a bad day
Stephen says: "I have limited movement in my shoulders and can't reach to take things out of the cupboards. My husband leaves me a sandwich on a plate on the work surface for my lunch. He also has to brush my hair for me every day. If I try to do it myself it's too painful. I've had my hair cut short so that it's easier for my husband to brush."
How the DWP assess this question
The DWP look at a list of statements called 'descriptors'. They'll give you a number of points depending on which descriptor applies to you.
The DWP add together all the points you get from the whole form. This means you can qualify for ESA even if you don't get all the points for this question.
Descriptors for question 3
| Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|
|
Descriptors
3 (a) Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket. |
Points
15 |
|
Descriptors
(b) Cannot raise either arm to top of head as if to put on a hat. |
Points
9 |
|
Descriptors
(c) Cannot raise either arm above head height as if to reach for something. |
Points
6 |
|
Descriptors
(d) None of the above apply. |
Points
0 |