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Activities » Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity »

Actvity 1: Mobilising

Activity 1 is defined in regulations as -

Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally or could reasonably be worn or used.

Activity 1 assesses the ability to move around and is satisfied if a claimant cannot move more than 50 metres safely and repeatedly on level ground without needing to stop, taking account of the use of aids such as a manual wheelchair, crutches or walking stick which are normally or could reasonably be used.

Note: in Autumn 2023, the Conservative Government launched a consultation on reform of the work capability assessment including proposals to either remove the LCWRA mobilising activity or replace 50 metres with 20 metres for both descriptors within the activity. In its November 2023 response to the consultation, the government confirmed that it will remove the LCWRA mobilising activity, with this and other changes to the work capability assessment to be implemented for new claims for universal credit and ESA from September 2025 onwards.

Descriptor

The descriptor relating to Activity 1 is -

Cannot either: (a) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or (b) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.

Sources:

See also section 2.3.1.1 of the DWP’s Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals.

Case law

Commentary:​ The reported decision [2015] AACR 5 is made by a three-judge panel and considers many previous conflicting decisions about the factors to be taken into account in assessing whether it is reasonable for a person to use a wheelchair, and sets out guidance to the application of Activity 1 for claimants who do not normally use manual wheelchairs. | Add commentary or suggest an edit.