Mobility car taken into account in ESA assessment?

This is on behalf of a friend who has just scored zero points in her ESA assessment. The assessor has noted throughout her report that my friend uses her car to shop, meet with friends etc. Given that on JS allowance, she will likely be unable to run her car and that this assessment report will most probably be used in a DLA to PIP assessment to follow and her mobility allowance lost, i.e. her car, should the fact that my friend cannot walk more than 20 metres or use public transport not have been taken into account.

One further question if I may, my friend is in constant pain and fatigued (she has a neurological condition) but this is not reflected at all in the assessment. Shouldn't it be?

Hi Cali,

The car itself should not make any difference to the mobility descriptor. However, the fact that your friend can shop and meet friends will clearly be considered as these suggest that she mobilises more than 20 meters (don't forget this is mobilise rather than walk).

In addition, driving also suggests that a claimant has good limb power and cognition.

The effects of pain and fatigue should be considered when deciding whether an activity can be carried out reliably.


May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your friend's ESA without having to start a new topic each time. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it helps us enormously - and I hope you will find it useful too