The 'disability' test

To get the disability element of WTC included in your assessment, you must have a ‘physical or mental disability which puts [you] at a disadvantage in getting a job’. This is assessed by the 'disability' test.

You will pass the disability test for working tax credit if:

• on an initial claim, one (or more) of the conditions in Part 1 or 2 apply to you;
• on a renewal claim, one (or more) of the conditions in Part 1 apply to you.

Part 1

1. When standing you cannot keep your balance unless you continually hold onto something.

2. Using any crutches, walking frame, walking stick, prosthesis or similar walking aid which you normally use, you cannot walk a continuous distance of 100 metres along level ground without stopping or without suffering severe pain.

3. You can use neither of your hands behind your back as in the process of putting on a jacket or of tucking a shirt into trousers.

4. You can extend neither of your arms in front of you so as to shake hands with another person without difficulty.

5. You can put neither of your hands up to your head without difficulty so as to put on a hat.

6. Due to lack of manual dexterity you cannot, with one hand, pick up a coin which is not more than 2.5 centimetres in diameter.

7. You are not able to use your hands or arms to pick up a full jug of 1 litre capacity and pour from it into a cup, without difficulty.

8. You can turn neither of your hands sideways through 180 degrees.

9. You are registered as blind or registered as partially sighted in a register compiled by a local authority.

10. You cannot see to read 16 point print at a distance greater than 20 centimetres, if appropriate, wearing the glasses you normally use.

11. You cannot hear a telephone ring when you are in the same room as the telephone, if appropriate, using a hearing aid you normally use.

12. In a quiet room you have difficulty in hearing what someone talking in a loud voice at a distance of 2 metres says, if appropriate, using a hearing aid you normally use.

13. People who know you well have difficulty in understanding what you say.

14. When a person you know well speaks to you, you have difficulty in understanding what that person says.

15. At least once a year during waking hours you are in a coma or have a fit in which you lose consciousness.

16. You have a mental illness for which you receive regular treatment under the supervision of a medically qualified person.

17. Due to mental disability you are often confused or forgetful.

18. You cannot do the simplest addition and subtraction.

19. Due to mental disability you strike people or damage property or are unable to form normal social relationships.

20. You cannot normally sustain an 8 hour working day or a 5 day working week due to a medical condition or intermittent or continuous severe pain.

Part2

21. As a result of an illness or accident you are undergoing a period of habilitation or rehabilitation.

HM Revenue and Customs may ask you to nominate a professional involved in your care who can confirm how your disability affects you - for example, an occupational therapist, community or district nurse or doctor.