Activity 7: Understanding communication
Activity 7 is defined in regulations as -
Understanding communication by: (i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone; (ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16 point print or Braille) alone; or (iii) a combination of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), using any aid that is normally, or could reasonably, be used unaided by another person.
Activity 7 considers difficulties in understanding a simple spoken or written message such as the location of a fire escape because of sensory impairment. In each case the descriptor can be satisfied because of hearing or sight problems, so it is only necessary to show you have difficulty or cannot understand a spoken or written message, and not both.
Descriptor
The descriptor relating to Activity 7 is -
Cannot understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire escape, due to sensory impairment.
Sources:
- Schedule 3 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (SI.No.794/2008) and Schedule 3 to SR.No.280/2008 in Northern Ireland (apply to income-related and old-style contributory ESA).
- Schedule 3 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 (SI.No.379/2013) and Schedule 3 to SR.No.219/2016 in Northern Ireland (apply to new-style contributory ESA).
- Schedule 7 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI.No.376/2013) and Schedule 7 to SR.No.216/2016 in Northern Ireland (apply to universal credit).
See also section 2.3.1.7 of the DWP’s Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals.
Case law
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Activity 7 ‘understanding communication’ can be satisfied on basis of either hearing or sight difficulties
- [2016] UKUT 242 (AAC)
- CE/3139/2015
- CM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA)
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Activity 7 / claimant needs to be impaired in understanding either spoken or written communication but not both
- [2015] UKUT 445 (AAC)
- [2016] AACR 8
- CE/3086/2014
- (1) AT, (2) VC v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (ESA)