They will most likely send a doctor out to assess you. You may be lucky to
get one who will bend the rules slightly.
I think the form asks how far you can walk unaided or without assistance,
not the same thing. My mother got knocked back on this when she *only* had
RA but managed to get it after she had a brain haemorrage. Daft rules some
of them.

I think it's about 50 - 100 yards, Briton. After all, you need to do the
walk back as well, plus what you're doing in between. I always complete the
DLA forms as though it's one of my bad days and not one of the good ones. If
you do the latter, you'll never get DLA.

In the past few years I've been turned down, taken them to a Tribunal and
won, had it reduced, then reinstated etc., but I've never been able to get a
doctor out to see me, despite asking to see one.

You would be wise to see your GP before you apply for DLA and tell him how
difficult it is getting for you to walk. It's likely your doctor will be
contacted by the DLA to complete a medical form about you. I made the great
mistake of soldiering on in great pain and not bothering my doctor - great
mistake!

Good luck, and come back if you have any questions.

Splodge

Hi, I'd just like to add that you will have to fight tooth and nail to get
DLA like I did. I've severe RA and walk with great difficulty on crutches
and its just short distances in the house, outside is a complete no no.
However I tried for mobility and was at first was told didn't qualify, I
tried again this time with an OT's report and they decided to give me low
mobility all the whilst I was on crutches waiting for either a full ankle
replacement or fusion. I didn't settle for that and gota benefits officer to
fill out my forms and hey presto they finally acknowledged my difficulty,
they also requested information from my hospital consultant and another Ot's
report. I was at all times upfront and honest in my assessments but you have
to know fully know how to fill in the forms. My advice to you would be to
seek professional help from citizens advice etc with the form filling as its
quite tedious and repetitive. If its your first time of applying then you
may receive a visit from a benefits doctor but my guess is that probably
wont happen and they'll automatically say your not entitled but hang in
there and fight it can take some time to get it and if you do qualify your
money will be back dated.

You say you can walk a couple of hundred yards well my guess is that you
wont get it with that it has to be really less than 50 yards, thats what I
was told by the benefits officer, but try anyway.

robert

this is a cut and paste from the DWP rules chapter 61 if you want the
whole thing i can send you the PDF file, just e mail me remove the
obvious in my reply to address. Martin McGowan

Mobility component - definitions
Unable or virtually unable to walk
61276 One of the conditions for entitlement to the higher rate mobility
component is that the
disabled person is unable or virtually unable to walk (61255 1.). People are
considered to be unable or virtually unable to walk if their physical
condition is such
that
1. they are unable to walk1 or
2. their ability to walk out of doors is so limited when considering
2.1 the distance over which or
2.2 the speed at which or
2.3 the length of time for which or
2.4 the manner in which
they can make progress on foot without severe discomfort, they are virtually
unable to walk2 or
3. the effort needed to walk would put their life at risk or be likely
to lead to a
serious deterioration in their health3.
The DM should not take account of where people live or the nature of
their work.
1 SS (DLA) Regs, reg 12(1)(a)(i); 2 reg 12(1)(a)(ii); 3 reg 12(1)(a)(iii)
Virtually unable to walk
61277 Virtually unable to walk means unable to walk to any appreciable
extent or practically
unable to walk1. The base point is a total inability to walk. It is
extended to take in
people who can technically walk but only to an insignificant extent2.
1 R(M) 1/78; 2 R(M) 1/91
61278 Whether a person is unable or virtually unable to walk depends on
the person’s
ability to negotiate the type of surface normally encountered out of
doors. No
account should be taken of exceptional hazards such as steep hills or
rough terrain.
The question of whether the person is able to lead a normal life is
inappropriate1.
1 R(M) 1/91
61279 Whether a person is virtually unable to walk should be decided on
the basis of how
their disability actually affects them, and not on how their disability
might be
improved with surgical intervention. The person’s condition must be
viewed as it
actually is, not as it might be1. But see 61308-61309 for artificial
limbs and
appliances.
1 R(M) 1/95
Mobility component - definitions 61276 61279
Vol 10 First Issue
61280-61290
Severe discomfort
61291 Severe discomfort must be brought on by walking. A person who can
walk only with
severe discomfort is likely to suffer from effects such as pain and
breathlessness1.
The test is one of severe discomfort rather than of severe pain or
distress2. The
term “severe discomfort” does not apply to the refusal to walk where
this is by
conscious choice3. But see 61304 et seq.
1 R(M) 1/83; 2 Cassinelli v S of S for Social Services; 3 R(M) 1/83
61292 The test in 61276 2. is of the person’s ability to walk out of
doors without severe
discomfort, not the capacity to walk with severe discomfort1. Any
walking with
severe discomfort is ignored.
1 R(M) 1/81