The Personal Capacity Assessment and walking up and down stairs

This activity has six descriptors. The number in brackets is the number of points for each descriptor.

• Cannot walk up and down one stair; (15)
• Cannot walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs;(15)
• Cannot walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs without holding on and taking a rest;(7)
• Cannot walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs without holding on;(3)
• Can only walk up and down a flight of 12 stairs if he/she goes sideways or one step at a time;(3)
• No problem in walking up and down stairs.(0)

This activity and walking on level ground should be counted as one, if claimants score on both then the highest score will be taken. Both scores cannot be added together.

The guidance states that walking up and down implies that both tasks can be managed but not necessarily one after the other.

Medical examiners are advised to assume that stairs of an "average and acceptable" standard are being used. The descriptors which refer to holding on should only be used when the claimant has a history of balance problems or falling which would make the use of a banister or handrail essential. It should not be used for those people who use such a rail out of habit.

It is pointed out that the third descriptor should relate to a considerably greater severity of problems than the fourth and fifth descriptors- having to hold on and take a rest is "more likely to reflect the existence of functional limitations additional to those due to impairment of lower limb functions".

Medical examiners are asked to consider the following re the claimant's home-

• Is it a flat or a house with stairs?
• Is the bathroom/toilet upstairs?
• Does the claimant sleep upstairs or downstairs?

If the claimant's home does not have stairs, doctors are advised to consider how he or she copes in friends' homes and in shops or other public buildings and also to consider how he or she copes with getting on and off public transport.

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