Walking distance ESA

headinawheelchair wrote:

Gordon wrote:

headinawheelchair wrote:

On the mobilising descriptor for ESA do you have to put an exact distance of how far you can walk before the onset of severe discomfort/pain.

Or would an answer like i can only walk up to 50 meters before the onset of severe discomfort/pain be suffice to score points.

I am asking because this gives you a bit more scope than trying to give an exact distance because one day it might be say 35 the meters the next it might be 40 meters.

If I take your statement at face value then you would score 0 points, because as Lester mentions, you have made no comment with regard to your ability to propel a wheelchair over the same distance.

On a slightly more generous view, then it would score 9 points for not being able to mobilise more than 100m. I would not expect it score the full 50m as that is the distance you have referenced.

Just as only referencing only your worst day is not appropriate, neither is doing so for your best. At the very least you should talk about the majority of the time, so as an example; for the majority of the time (4 days a week), I am unable to walk 100m, at least twice a week I am unable to walk more than 50m.

I know the vast majority, myself included, find the inclusion of a wheelchair as preposterous, but it is what the legislation states. Even is someone were to hilight problems with their upper body in the other tests, I would still include details of any restrictions in this one as well.

Remember that repeatability and exhaustion are included in the tests, so if they would affect your ability to mobilise you should be including details.

Gordon

If someone also mentioned that they would not be able to propel also a wheelchair up to 50 meters because of upper limb disability as well as walking up to 50 meters would that then score 15 points and could then that qaulify for the support group as well.

Hi,

If you can't mobilise more than 50 metres, incuding walking, the use of a manual wheelchair unaided, or by using any other walking aid, then yes you "SHOULD" score the maximum 15 points for this descriptor.

Scoring maximum points for this descriptor ( 15 points) would also give entry to the support group.

I think the key word is "SHOULD", as information provided on the claimants ESA50 is not always being taken as fact.

cheers

bro58

I did state on the esa50 that I would be unable to propel a wheelchair as I have no feeling, strengh or grip in my right hand but I still failed to get into the SG, my GP covered my inability to walk but failed to provide anything in the report ref wheelchair, I am appealing and awaiting new report from GP,I cannot stress enough the need to have solid evidence to support the mobilising part.

headinawheelchair wrote:

If someone also mentioned that they would not be able to propel also a wheelchair up to 50 meters because of upper limb disability as well as walking up to 50 meters would that then score 15 points and could then that qaulify for the support group as well.

Your statement says you are ABLE to mobilise 50m before stopping, playing Devils Advocate, why not 49m or more importantly 51m.

I believe it reasonable for both the ATOS "doctor" and the DWP Decision Maker to assume a degree of variation in the 50m that you quote. If all you do is state an absolute value with no illustration of any day to day variations, you invite these assumptions, with the liklihood that you would not score the 15 points.

Gordon