Mental Disability Test
Important
On 27 October 2008 Incapacity Benefit and Income Support on the grounds of sickness or disability were replaced by Employment and Support Allowance for new claims. People who are already on Incapacity Benefit or Income Support will continue to receive those benefits.
You should only continue to refer to these pages if you have an existing claim for Incapacity Benefit or Income Support on the grounds of sickness or disability. Otherwise you should refer Employment and Support Allowance.
Mental Disability Test
-
If you score 10 points or more on this test you are incapable of work.
- If you score between 6 and 9 points then 9 points will be added to the physical assessment score to see if you pass the 15 points threshold.
- If you score less than 6 points on this test the points are not counted.
Completion of tasks
| Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|
| Cannot answer the telephone and reliably take a message | 2 |
| Often sits for hours doing nothing | 2 |
| Cannot concentrate to read a magazine article or follow a radio or television programme | 1 |
| Cannot use a telephone book or other directory to find a number | 1 |
| Mental condition prevents him from undertaking leisure activities previously enjoyed | 1 |
| Overlooks or forgets the risk posed by domestic appliances or other common hazards due to poor concentration | 1 |
| Agitation, confusion or forgetfulness has resulted in mishaps or accidents in the 3 months before the day in respect to which it falls to be determined whether he is incapable of work for the purposes of entitlement to any benefit allowance or advantage | 1 |
| Concentration can only be sustained by prompting | 1 |
Daily living
| Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|
| Needs encouragement to get up and dress | 2 |
| Needs alcohol before midday | 2 |
| Is frequently distressed at some time of the day due to fluctuation of mood | 1 |
| Does not care about his appearance and living conditions | 1 |
| Sleep problems interfere with his daytime activities | 1 |
Coping with pressure
| Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|
| Mental stress was a factor in making him stop work | 2 |
| Frequently feels scared or panicky for no obvious reason | 2 |
| Avoids carrying out routine activities because he is convinced they will prove too tiring or stressful | 1 |
| Is unable to cope with changes in daily routine | 1 |
| Frequently finds there are so many things to do that he gives up because of fatigue, apathy or disinterest | 1 |
| Is scared or anxious that work would bring back or worsen his illness | 1 |
Interaction with other people
| Descriptors | Points |
|---|---|
| Cannot look after himself without help form others | 2 |
| Gets upset by ordinary events and it results in disruptive behavioural problems | 2 |
| Mental problems impair ability to communicate with other people | 2 |
| Gets irritated by things that would not have bothered him before he became ill | 1 |
| Prefers to be left alone for 6 hours or more each day | 1 |
| Is too frightened to go out alone | 1 |