Activity 13: Initiating and completing personal action
Activity 13 is defined in regulations as -
Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).
Activity 13 assesses the ability to initiate and successfully complete tasks without the need for external prompting. A descriptor may be satisfied if there is a significant restriction of an individual’s ability to understand how to co-ordinate actions in the correct sequence such that they can't successfully complete any personal actions in a logical order.
Descriptors
The descriptors that relate to Activity 13 are -
- Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions. 15 points
- Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions for the majority of the time. 9 points
- Frequently cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions. 6 points
- None of the above applies. 0 points
Sources:
- Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (SI.No.794/2008) and Part 2 of Schedule 2 to SR.No.280/2008 in Northern Ireland (apply to income-related and old-style contributory ESA).
- Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 (SI.No.379/2013) and Part 2 of Schedule 2 to SR.No.219/2016 in Northern Ireland (apply to new-style contributory ESA).
- Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013) and Part 2 of Schedule 6 to SR.No.216/2016 in Northern Ireland (apply to universal credit).
See also section 3.5.4 of the DWP’s Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals.
Case law
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- Activity 13 / how test of initiating or completing ‘sequential personal actions’ is to be applied
- [2015] UKUT 458 (AAC)
- CE/2966/2014
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Failure to properly assess effect of claimant’s mental health problems on application of ESA descriptors
- [2014] UKUT 523 (AAC)
- CE/171/2014
- Whether person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder can reliably complete actions
- [2014] UKUT 112 (AAC)
- CE/2016/2013
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Whether person with limited capability for work has to be more severely disabled to qualify for the ‘support group’
- [2012] UKUT 289 (AAC)
- CE/2275/2011