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Background information

8 million people are currently affected by arthritis or rheumatic disease - of these, more than 3 million have a significant disability.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder, affecting more than 1 million people.

Around 350,000 people have rheumatoid arthritis.
(Arthritis Research Campaign, 2002)

Definition

Becoming permanently disabled according to all the requirements of either of the following definitions:

LIFE TASKS

Becoming permanently disabled:

• through ageing, illness or injury;
• to the extent of being unable to perform any three of the six life tasks listed below without the help of another person, but with the use of appropriate assistive aids and appliances;

  Walking - The ability to walk 200 metres on a level surface with a stick or other aid without stopping or severe discomfort.

  Lifting - The ability to pick up 1kg from table height and carry it for five metres.

  Using a pen/pencil/keyboard - The ability to use a pen, pencil or keyboard with either hand or using any aids.

  Hearing - The ability to hear well enough to understand someone speaking a common language in a normal voice in a quiet room with a hearing aid.

  Speech - The ability to be understood in a common language in a quiet room.

  Vision - The ability to see well enough to read 16 point print using spectacles or other aids.

  and the disability is irreversible with no reasonable prospect of there ever being any improvement.

MENTAL INCAPACITY

Becoming permanently disabled:

• through an organic brain disease or brain injury which affects the ability to reason and understand;
• the condition has deteriorated to the extent that continual supervision and the assistance of another person is required; and
• the disability is irreversible with no reasonable prospect of there ever being any improvement.

What does this mean?

This benefit is designed as a general disability benefit. Whilst some of the disabling diseases of older age, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Motor Neurone disease are covered separately, there are other conditions which can prove to be just as debilitating. These could include conditions such as severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, which can prevent the sufferer from living without constant help and care. In some cases, it could just be extreme old age, which prevents the individual from looking after themselves.