Q8 - getting around safely

How to answer the question

Question 8 asks about problems with your vision.

If you have another physical condition that affects your ability to get around safely, you should include it - for example:

• migraines - if they affect your vision or give you dizziness or vertigo

• hearing loss - if it makes it more difficult for you to get around safely

• narcolepsy (a disorder that makes people fall asleep at inappropriate times)

• Meniere’s disease - if it makes you dizzy or gives you vertigo

If you normally use glasses or contact lenses, a guide dog, a hearing aid or any other aid, answer the questions based on how you get around when you're using them.

You don't need to write about your mental health in question 8 - this question is only about physical health conditions.

If you have a mental health condition that makes it hard for you to get around safely on your own (for example anxiety or agoraphobia), write about it in question 15.

"Can you see to cross the road on your own?"

• No

• Yes

• It varies

Think about trying to cross a road you've never crossed before - for example, on the way to an appointment somewhere new.

Don't feel embarrassed if you have to tick "no", for example if you'd need help from another person.

You could tick "if varies" if it depends on the weather and if it's daytime or if it's after dark.

"Can you get around a place that you haven't been to before without help?"

• No

• Yes

• It varies

Again, don't feel embarrassed if you have to tick "no" because you'd need help from another person - for example if:

• you couldn't get around a new place without help after dark

• you have blurred or double vision

• your hearing difficulties mean you wouldn't be able to ask for help

What to write in the box

It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box - both for crossing the road and getting around new places.

It's important to explain things like:

• what would stop you from crossing the road on your own

• whether you've fallen in the past

• if you have good and bad days (for example, if you have migraines) - and what it's like for you on different days

• whether you can use public transport to get around - for example you can't see the number on the bus, so don't know if it's the right route

• if you can get around a supermarket to find what you're looking for

• if you can focus on things when you need to - for example road signs

Example

Andrea says: "My eye condition is getting worse. I've started to get tunnel vision and it's difficult for me to see when it's getting dark, or if there are dim lights. I'm not used to it, and I'm getting clumsy because my peripheral vision is going. I've bumped into people in the street because I haven't seen them coming - it's really embarrassing.

Once it starts to get dark I can only cross the road with someone else or at a crossing because I can't see what's coming. I've had a couple of near misses when cars have had to emergency stop to not hit me."

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.

Next steps

Question 9: Controlling your bowels and bladder and using a collecting device

Back to Help filling in your ESA form