Adult Disability Payment ‘descriptors’

Regulations were amended to take into account whether a person can carry out an  activity ‘safely, reliably, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period’

• Safely: In a way that is unlikely to cause harm to you or anyone else, either during  or after you have completed the task. Consideration must be given to the likelihood of harm, and the severity of the consequences of that harm.
• To an acceptable standard: Means to a reasonable standard. Account should be taken of the impact on you of carrying out the task to that standard. An example of not completing a task to an acceptable standard would be if you can wash yourself but you do not realise you have done so inadequately and are still not clean after you have finished.
• Repeatedly: Being able to complete the task as often as is reasonably required. The cumulative effects of symptoms such as pain and fatigue are relevant because the effort of completing a task could make it harder for you to repeat it or to complete other tasks. For instance, if you are able to prepare breakfast without help, but the exhaustion from doing this means that you could not prepare another meal that day, you should be treated as being unable to prepare a meal unaided. This is because it is reasonable to expect someone to be able to prepare more than one meal a day.
• In a reasonable time: No more than twice as long as the maximum time normally taken by someone without a disability.

Variable and fluctuating conditions

• ‘50% rule‘ In the ADP assessment, a descriptor will apply to you if it reflects your ability for the majority of days (ie on over half of them).
• ‘Qualifying period‘ This is considered over a 12-month period; looking back 13 weeks and forward 39 weeks.
• Where one descriptor is satisfied on over half the days in that period, that descriptor will apply. Where two or more descriptors are satisfied on over half the days, the descriptor which scores the highest number of points will apply. These conditions will not apply however if you are terminally ill.

DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES

To get an award of the daily living component, you need to score:

• 8 points for the standard rate
• 12 points for the enhanced rate

For daily living, the points need to be scored from activities 1-10 below. 

1 – Preparing Food

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to prepare a simple, cooked meal for one from fresh ingredients. This is not a reflection of a claimant’s cooking skills but instead a consideration of the impact of impairment on ability to perform the tasks required. It assesses ability to open packaging, serve food, peel and chop food and use a microwave oven or cooker hob to cook or heat food.

1a – Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided (0)

1b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal (2)

1c – Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave (2)

1d – Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal (2)

1e – Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal (4)

1f – Cannot prepare and cook food (8)

2 – Taking nutrition.

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to be nourished, either by cutting food into pieces, conveying to the mouth, chewing and swallowing; or through the use of therapeutic sources. The nutritious quality of what is being eaten or drunk is irrelevant. Note: A key consideration when considering whether supervision is required should be whether the claimant has a real risk of choking when taking nutrition.

2a – Can take nutrition unaided (0)

2b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to  be able to take nutrition; or supervision to be able to take nutrition; or assistance to be able to cut up food (2)

2c – Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition (2)

2d – Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition (4)

2e – Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition (6)

2f – Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so (10)

3 – Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to appropriately take medication in a domestic setting and which are prescribed or recommended by a registered doctor, nurse or pharmacist, monitor and detect changes in a health condition; and manage therapeutic activities that are carried out in a domestic setting and prescribed or recommended by a registered doctor, nurse, pharmacist or healthcare professional regulated by the Health Professions Council; and without any of which their health is likely to deteriorate.

3a – Either does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided (0)

3b – Needs any one or more of the following –

• to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication;

• supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication

• supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition (1)

3c – Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week (2)

3d – Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week (4)

3e – Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week (6)

3f – Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week (8)

4 – Washing and bathing

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to wash and bathe, including washing their whole body and getting in and out of an un-adapted bath or shower.

4a – Can wash and bathe unaided (0)

4b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe (2)

4c – Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe (2)

4d – Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist (2)

4e – Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower (3)

4f – Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist (4)

4g – Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body (8)

5 – Managing toilet needs or incontinence.

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to get on and off the toilet, to clean afterwards and to manage evacuation of the bladder and/or bowel, including the use of collecting devices. This activity does not include the ability to manage clothing, for example fastening and unfastening zips or buttons, as this is covered in activity 6.

5a – Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided (0)

5b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence (2)

5c – Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs (2)

5d – Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs (4)

5e – Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel (6)

5f – Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel (8)

6 – Dressing and undressing

This activity assesses a claimant’s ability to put on and take off culturally appropriate, un-adapted clothing that is suitable for the situation. This may include the need for fastenings such as zips or buttons and considers the ability to put on/take off socks and shoes.

6a – Can dress and undress unaided (0)

6b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress (2)

6c – Needs either prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing (2)

6d – Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body (2)

6e – Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body (4)

6f – Cannot dress or undress at all (8)

7 – Communicating verbally

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to communicate verbally with regard to expressive (conveying) communication and receptive (receiving and understanding) communication.

7a – Can express and understand verbal information unaided (0)

7b – Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear (2)

7c – Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information (4)

7d – Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information (8)

7e – Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support (12)

8 – Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to read and understand signs, symbols and words.

8a – Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses (0)

8b – Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information (2)

8c – Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information (2)

8d – Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information (4)

8e – Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all (8)

9 – Engaging with other people face to face.

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to engage with other people which means to interact face to face in a contextually and socially appropriate manner, understand body language and establish relationships.

9a – Can engage with other people unaided (0)

9b – Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people (2)

9c – Needs social support to be able to engage with other people (4)

9d – Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person (8)

10 – Making budgeting decisions.

This activity considers the ability of a claimant to make everyday budgeting decisions. Notes: Complex budgeting decisions are those that are involved in calculating household and personal budgets, managing and paying bills and planning future purchases. Simple budgeting decisions are those that are involved in activities such as calculating the cost of goods and change required following purchases.

10a – Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided (0)

10b – Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions (2)

10c – Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions (4)

10d – Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all (6)

MOBILITY ACTIVITIES

To get an award of the mobility component you need to score:

• 8 points for the standard rate
• 12 points for the enhanced rate

For mobility, the points need to be scored from activities 11-12 below:

11 – Planning and following journeys

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to work out and follow the route of a journey. Notes: A person should only be considered able to follow an unfamiliar journey if they are capable of using public transport (bus or train). Consideration should be given to safety and whether there would be a substantial risk to the claimant or others if they went out alone.

11a – Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided (0)

11b – Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant (4)

11c – Cannot plan the route of a journey (8)

11d – Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid (10)

11e – Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant (10)

11f – Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid (12)

12 – Moving around

This activity considers a claimant’s physical ability to move around without severe discomfort such as breathlessness, pain or fatigue. This includes the ability to stand and then move up to 20 metres, up to 50 metres, up to 200 metres and over 200 metres. Notes: This activity should be judged in relation to a type of surface normally expected out of doors such as pavements on the flat and includes the consideration of kerbs.

12a – a Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided (0)

12b – Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided (4)

12c – Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres (8)

12d – Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres (10)

12e – Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided (12)

12f – Cannot, either aided or unaided stand; or move more than 1 metre (12)

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