The Hypothetical Wheelchair and Other Mobility Aids

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Would you please send me copies of:

1)the information you (DWP OR Atos) send to claimants in advance of a WCA that SPECIFICALLY points out that:

a)When assessing mobility, the HCP will consider if it could be improved by the claimant using a self-propelled wheelchair even though they may not have one.

b)That they should bare this in mind when completing the ESA50, both in terms of

i)Their upper body condition to allow them to propel a wheelchair.

ii)Their ability to accommodate two steps.

2)The information you routinely send to claimants to explain if the decision regarding ESA payments has been based on use of a wheelchair when they do not use one currently.

3)The information you send to supplement such a decision regarding the interpretation the claimant should place on your wheelchair recommendation in relation to potentially conflicting information from GP &/or consultant.

4)The help you provide to explain what a claimant might have to do to obtain a wheelchair.

5)When gathering additional information (perhaps from a GP or consultant), the advice a DM would send out to ensure the recipient is aware of the wheelchair scenario so that the reply can be prepared accordingly.

What should a claimant do if DWP has made a decision based on use of a wheelchair, when the GP/consultant has SPECIFICALLY advised against using one?

When assessing mobility, do the HCP and DM have to be consistent with regard to wheelchair use or not? That is, must they consider ALL aspects of mobility either with a wheelchair or without a wheelchair, rather than some aspects with and some aspects without?

You refer to “aids that are widely available”. What exactly are these?

If mobility scooters are NOT on this list, why not as they too are widely available?

A claimant’s might first become aware that their chances of finding employment will be improved by using a wheelchair from the first decision notice they receive from DWP, which might immediately stop ESA payments. Arranging a wheelchair could take a few months during which time their lower mobility prevents them from working. Being unable to work for this reason, they are not eligible for JSA either. How do they deal with this?

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

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

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References

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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 1277

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 Hypothetical Wheelchair and Other Mobility Aids'.

Q5: My question was about how well you brief the recipient of an ESA113 to ensure the response is comprehensive particularly in relation to use of a wheelchair, not the claimant. Please read again.

Q7: This is needless stalling. You use the expression widely in FoI responses and in the WCA manual. Please do not pretend you have not seen it before.

Q8: This is a perfectly reasonable question. What information do you have that substantiates the split you have applied between what is widely available and what is not – I would like to know the basis on which these decisions have been made.

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

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

DWP DWP Medical Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Newman

Please find enclosed a response to your request for information under the
Freedom of Information Act.

<<Mr Newman response VTR IR245.pdf>>

Thank you

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