People who are deemed to have a severe learning difficulty are exempt from the Personal Capacity Assessment.
The Incapacity Benefit Handbook for Doctors lists the following as being characteristic of a severe learning difficulty.
An inability to learn more than the most basic skills such as feeding, dressing and going to the toilet. Many will not
reach even this level
The likely need for help with most of, if not all, their bodily functions
A failure to be aware of dangers indoor or out, requiring constant supervision, requiring constant supervision to avoid danger to
themselves and others
Severe behaviours often so unpredictable that itis not possible to avoid situations that provoke eg. instances of self-harm or physical violence
towards tohers or unpredictable behaviour when out eg suddenly rushing across a busy street.
