esa descriptos and blind people

i have a question and i just wondered if anyone on here has an opinion, i am a registered blind person and am currently on income support, at some point though i do not have a review date like everyone else i will get the dreaded letter telling me i will be migrated to ESA,
it appears that i really can only get points under activity 7 (understanding communication/16 point print, i cannot see that text at any distance) and the following activity below (8)…i do not own a guide dog so does this mean i cannot even qualify for this activity? i have just enough sight to navigate in areas i know well but cannot cross roads safely on my own, will they simply omit the question? or does it mean whether a guide dog or not?
many thanks in anticipation, there are some very clever people on this forum, i hope you can help me.
stuart
8. Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used…..Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.

stuart52 wrote:

i have a question and i just wondered if anyone on here has an opinion, i am a registered blind person and am currently on income support, at some point though i do not have a review date like everyone else i will get the dreaded letter telling me i will be migrated to ESA,
it appears that i really can only get points under activity 7 (understanding communication/16 point print, i cannot see that text at any distance) and the following activity below (8)…i do not own a guide dog so does this mean i cannot even qualify for this activity? i have just enough sight to navigate in areas i know well but cannot cross roads safely on my own, will they simply omit the question? or does it mean whether a guide dog or not?
many thanks in anticipation, there are some very clever people on this forum, i hope you can help me.
stuart
8. Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used…..Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.

Hi S52,

Have you read Pages 48 to 51 of the Employment and Support Allowance claims on physical health grounds: a guide to the work capability assessment.

Which is the 3rd link down on this page :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

There is also useful information on advice given to the ATOS HCP's regarding the tasks in question at 3.3.7. Pages 75 to 84 of The WCA Handbook which is accessible from the same link above, 6th link down the page.

Hope this helps.

bro58

Hi S52,

With regards to the guide dog issue, as you will see in the information in the ESA guides that I have cited, you can not be assessed as having a guide dog, if you don't have one.

They don't have an "imaginary guide dog" yet, as they do with the "imaginary wheelchair" in the mobilising descriptor.

bro58

thanks bro58, i had to use my text to speech to read the guide but it was very helpful, the help that B/W give is so very much appreciated, and regarding the imaginary guide dog..well shh, they haven't thought of it yet!

stuart52 wrote:

i have a question and i just wondered if anyone on here has an opinion, i am a registered blind person and am currently on income support, at some point though i do not have a review date like everyone else i will get the dreaded letter telling me i will be migrated to ESA,
it appears that i really can only get points under activity 7 (understanding communication/16 point print, i cannot see that text at any distance) and the following activity below (8)…i do not own a guide dog so does this mean i cannot even qualify for this activity? i have just enough sight to navigate in areas i know well but cannot cross roads safely on my own, will they simply omit the question? or does it mean whether a guide dog or not?
many thanks in anticipation, there are some very clever people on this forum, i hope you can help me.
stuart
8. Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used…..Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.

Taken from the WCA Handbook

The person’s ability must be considered in the context of using any aids such as spectacles, a white stick or guide dog they normally use. As a guide dog is not universally available/suitable for every person, the use of a guide dog must only be considered if the person has a guide dog. The use of GPS devices would not be considered in this area.
The level of visual restriction is likely to impact on the person’s ability

Hi,

This link may also be of interest:

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/2343/

Steve