Use of Wheelchairs and Mobilising

I have Arthritis in all my joints, which is very bad in both hands and feet.

The problems don't allow me to walk more than a few feet without chronic pain, I use 2 sticks but these cause my hands to go into spasms, meaning I often drop the sticks, have to stop walking, pain levels increase and I get exhausted very quickly.

The new test says 30 mtrs..... My total distance walking without pain is 0 meters,and I def need to stop often due to the cramps brought on by the pain and walking motion. I have, in the past, tried using a wheelchair but it makes the pain in my hands worse, I cant repeat the wheeling motition more than a couple of times. The other problem is I have a spinal condition which means I can't sit or stand for any period of time of around 5 mins or more - it becomes extremely painful - I constantly shuffle around.

Given the above - can anyone tell me if the DWP/ATOS could resonably say I could use a wheelchair and refuse me the points in the new test.

Hi Edwin

It's never possible to second-guess Atos/DWP but from what you have said it sounds like you have a very strong case to score the points for both activities.

Obtaining medical opinion from your GP or other health professional to support your claim will make it much more difficult for the DWP to refuse points.

Good luck

Derek

Edwin wrote:

I have Arthritis in all my joints, which is very bad in both hands and feet.

The problems don't allow me to walk more than a few feet without chronic pain, I use 2 sticks but these cause my hands to go into spasms, meaning I often drop the sticks, have to stop walking, pain levels increase and I get exhausted very quickly.

The new test says 30 mtrs..... My total distance walking without pain is 0 meters,and I def need to stop often due to the cramps brought on by the pain and walking motion. I have, in the past, tried using a wheelchair but it makes the pain in my hands worse, I cant repeat the wheeling motition more than a couple of times. The other problem is I have a spinal condition which means I can't sit or stand for any period of time of around 5 mins or more - it becomes extremely painful - I constantly shuffle around.

Given the above - can anyone tell me if the DWP/ATOS could resonably say I could use a wheelchair and refuse me the points in the new test.

Hi, Ed,

The new mobilising deescriptor, is 50 metres (about 54 yards).

I think it used to be 30 metres, when it was just walking, on the old test.

cheers

bro58

cheers, I do (like we all do) really worry about this a lot, more so when I read that the goverment think that this migration is working wonderfully well and they slap themselves on the back, contrary to the vast amount of evidence we all read and see.