The "2-step test" for wheelchair users

The request was refused by Department for Work and Pensions.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

The descriptors within the WCA now refer to mobilisation in general terms, rather than any specific means. Someone who is permanently confined to a self-propelled wheelchair, may well be able to cover more than 200m on level ground without pain of becoming exhausted. However, what points would be attributed with regard to their ability to cope with 2 steps and why?

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'The "2-step test" for wheelchair users'.

It is well overdue and no reason has been given.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/th...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct. 

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear J Newman

Please see attached response to your FoI request 3870

Kind regards

DWP Central FoI Team

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'The "2-step test" for wheelchair users'.

Thank you, but I don’t quite get what you are saying here other than the fact that there is far more to this than meets the eye it seems:

1) You have not actually answered my specific question regarding the way points would be attributed in this situation - please advise.

Phrased another way, is it feasible that a DM could assign someone to a wheelchair to maximise mobility on level ground and then ignore the correspondingly reduced mobility when it comes to steps etc. and score zero point on this descriptor overall?

2)Please supply a list of the aids you regard as “widely available”.

3)In deciding that a person would have improved capability to work by using one of these aids, how and when do you explain this to the person?

4)What support do you offer to the person in obtaining one of these aids?

5)Given that these aids take varying amounts of time to organise, do you allow the person an appropriate lead time?

6)Wheelchair assessments can only be arranged though a GP.
a. How do you react if the GP categorically states that a wheelchair is ill-advised?
b. How do react if the person fails the assessment – i.e. the assessor decides one is inappropriate – and cannot obtain one?

7)How do you explain to the person before they complete their ESA50 that this is how the assessment will be made, so they can make sure they explain aspects of their health that they otherwise might not regard as relevant?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/th...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct. 

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear J Newman

Please see attached response to your FoI request IR 45

Kind regards

DWP Central FoI Team

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DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear ,

Please see attached response to your FoI request.

Kind regards,

DWP Central FoI Team

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J Newman left an annotation ()

I have closed this as "refused" as DWP has decided to pretend it does not understand the issue here and pretend that it has answered specific questions when it has not.

There is generally more than one way to skin a cat however.