Q1 - moving around and using steps
This advice applies to Wales. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland
This question is on page 8 of the form - see what it looks like
How to answer the question
If you usually need to use something to help you walk (like crutches or a walking stick), base your answer on how you walk when you're using it. If you use a wheelchair, base your answer on how you get around when you're using it.
Don't feel embarrassed about your answers - it's important for the DWP to know what you can manage without anyone else's help.
"How far can you move safely and repeatedly on level ground without needing to stop?"
50 metres
100 metres
200 metres or more
It varies
Think about what would happen if you tried to get around an office, or along a supermarket aisle - whether you'd need to lean on a shopping trolley, for example.
It's ok if you don't know what to tick straight away. Try moving and see how far you get.
50 metres is about the length of 5 double-decker buses.
If you use an electric wheelchair, try to imagine getting around using a manual wheelchair. Think how far you could get without someone pushing you around.
What to write in the box
It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.
You should explain in the box:
how long it usually takes you to move 50 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres (or more) - if you can't move those distances, you should explain that
whether moving causes you pain and roughly how long for
whether it makes you out of breath
if it makes you dizzy or unsteady on your feet
whether you've fallen in the past - remember to say how often this happens, and whether you needed someone else to help you to get up
whether you'd be able to move that distance again throughout the day
if you have good and bad days, and what the differences are
how you manage when you leave the house If you can only move around within your home
If you use something to help you get around (for example crutches or a walking stick), it's important to explain how and why you use it.
"Can you go up or down two steps without help from another person, if there is a rail to hold on to?"
Yes
No
It varies
Don't feel embarrassed about saying "no" - for example you should tick "no" if you wouldn't be able to go up or down 2 steps, or it'd leave you exhausted or in pain for the rest of the day. It's important for the DWP to know this.
It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.
Think about what would happen if you tried to get up or down steps in a public place - somewhere like a local hospital or shopping centre. Try to imagine that lots of other people are around.
What to write in the box
If using steps would cause you pain, you should explain in the box:
how bad the pain would be, for example so bad that you couldn't move
the nature of the pain, for example throbbing, stomach pain or sharp pain
how long you'd be in pain for, for example about 4 hours
whether it'd stop you doing anything else and for how long, for example you'd have to lie down for the rest of the day
If going up and down steps would make you tired or breathless, you should say:
how tired you'd be, for example whether you'd need to sit or lie down
how long you'd be tired for (you can estimate this)
whether being tired would stop you doing other things, and for how long
how it'd affect the rest of your day, for example you'd be too tired to talk to someone
Simon says: "I have arthritis in my right knee and hip, and also in both wrists. On a good day I can walk 100m slowly - I'd have to rest a couple of times though, as I'd be in pain. I can't use a stick or crutches or a wheelchair because the arthritis in my wrists means I can't grip and don't have much strength. On a bad day, I can just about get around my flat but would usually stay in bed so I don't have to move much."
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 1
Descriptors | Points |
---|---|
Descriptors
1 (a) Cannot unaided by another person either: (i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or (ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion. |
Points
15 |
Descriptors
(b) Cannot unaided by another person mount or descend two steps even with the support of a handrail. |
Points
9 |
Descriptors
(c) Cannot unaided by another person either: (i) mobilise more than 100 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or (ii) repeatedly mobilise 100 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion. |
Points
9 |
Descriptors
(d) Cannot unaided by another person either: (i) mobilise more than 200 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or (ii) repeatedly mobilise 200 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion. |
Points
6 |
Descriptors
(e) None of the above applies. |
Points
0 |
Next steps
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