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 Step 5 Do you satisfy any of the limited capability for work-related activity (support group) descriptors?
If any one of the descriptors in the activities below apply to you then you will be eligible for the support group. The law says that the descriptor needs to apply to you for the majority of the time or on most occasions when you attempt the activity.
1. Walking or moving on level ground
Cannot—
(a) walk (with a walking stick or other aid if such aid is normally used);
(b) move (with the aid of crutches if crutches are normally used); or
(c) manually propel his wheelchair,
more than 30 metres without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort.
2. Rising from sitting and transferring from one seated position to another
Cannot complete both of the following:
(a) rise to standing from sitting in an upright chair without receiving physical assistance from another person; and
(b) move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
3. Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms (excluding standing, sitting, bending or kneeling and all other activities specified in this Schedule)
Cannot pick up and move 0.5 litre carton full of liquid with either hand.
4. Reaching
Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.
5. Manual dexterity
Cannot—
(a) turn a “star-headed” sink tap with either hand; or
(b) pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand.
6. Continence
(a) Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where claimant does not have an artificial stoma or urinary collecting device—
(a) has no voluntary control over bowel evacuation;
(b) has no voluntary control over voiding of bladder;
(c) loses control of bowel so that he cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel at least once per week;
(d) loses control of bladder so that he cannot control the full voiding of the bladder at least once a week;
(e) fails to control full evacuation of the bowel at least once a week, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour; or
(f) fails to control full voiding of the bladder at least once a week, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
(b) Continence where claimant uses a urinary collecting device, worn for the majority of the time including an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter—
(a) is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without receiving physical assistance from another person;
(b) is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without causing leakage of contents;
(c) has no voluntary control over bowel evacuation;
(d) loses control of bowel so that he cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel at least once per week; or
(e) fails to control full evacuation of the bowel at least once a week, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
(c) Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where claimant has an artificial stoma—
(a) is unable to affix, remove or empty stoma appliance without receiving physical assistance from another person;
(b) is unable to affix, remove or empty stoma appliance without causing leakage of contents;
(c) where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, has no voluntary control over voiding of bladder;
(d) where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, loses control of the bladder so that he cannot control the full voiding of the bladder at least once per week; or
(e) where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, fails to control the full voiding of the bladder at least once a week, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
7. Maintaining personal hygiene
Cleaning own torso
(a) cannot clean own torso (excluding own back) without receiving physical assistance from another person;
(b) cannot clean own torso (excluding own back) without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) cannot clean own torso (excluding own back) without receiving regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant; or
(d) owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to clean own torso (excluding own back) without receiving—
(i) physical assistance from another person,
or
(ii) regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant.
8. Eating and drinking
(a) Conveying food or drink to his mouth.
(a) cannot convey food or drink to his mouth without receiving physical assistance from another person;
(b) cannot convey food or drink to his mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) cannot convey food or drink to his mouth without receiving regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant; or
(d) owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to convey food or drink to his mouth without receiving—
(i) physical assistance from another person,
or
(ii) regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant.
(b) Chewing or swallowing food or drink
(a) cannot chew or swallow food or drink;
(b) cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) cannot chew or swallow food or drink without receiving regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant; or
(d) owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to—
(i) chew or swallow food or drink; or
(ii) chew or swallow food or drink without regular prompting given by another person in the physical presence of the claimant.
9. Learning or comprehension in the completion of tasks
(a) cannot learn or understand how to successfully complete a simple task, such as the preparation of a hot drink, at all;
(b) needs to witness a demonstration, given more than once on the same occasion of how to carry out a simple task before he is able to learn or understand how to complete the task successfully, but would be unable to successfully complete the task the following day without receiving a further demonstration of how to complete it;
or
(c) fails to do any of the matters referred to in (a) or (b) owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
10. Personal action—
(a) cannot initiate or sustain any personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks);
(b) Cannot initiate or sustain personal action without requiring daily verbal prompting given by another person in the presence of the claimant; or
(c) fails to initiate or sustain basic personal action without requiring daily verbal prompting given by another person in the presence of the claimant, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
11. Communication—
(a) none of the following forms of communication can be achieved by the claimant—
(i) speaking (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
(ii) writing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
(iii) typing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers)
(iv) sign language to a standard equivalent to Level 3 British Sign Language;
(b) none of the forms of communication referred to in (a) are achieved by the claimant, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour;
(c) Misinterprets verbal or non-verbal communication to the extent of causing distress to himself on a daily basis; or
(d) effectively cannot make himself understood to others because of his disassociation from reality owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
Yes, I do satisfy one of the descriptors.
If the decision maker agrees, then you will be eligible for the higher paying support group instead of the lower paying limited capability for work group. That’s the end of the test for you.
No, I don't satisfy any of the descriptors.
You are still eligible for ESA with a work-related activity component. Move on to Step 6 Are you covered by the limited capability for work-related activity (support group) exceptional circumstances regulations? to see if you qualify for the support component via that route.
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