Submission on use of the UK version of the Functional Assessment Measure as the basis to assess

entitlement to disability benefits to the Work, Pensions & Equality Commission of Labour's
National Policy Forum

Use of the UK version of the Functional Assessment Measure as the basis to assess entitlement to
disability benefits would answer the question ‘How should people’s entitlement to sickness and
disability social security payments be assessed?’ asked under the 'Disabled people' heading of the
Work, Pensions & Equality Commission's policy document.

The policy document states that the assessments that determine disabled people’s entitlements are
deeply flawed. The frequency of overturned decisions is evidence that both work capability and PIP
assessments should be scrapped and replaced.

The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is a widely used quantitative measure of disability.
The Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM+FAM) is a more
comprehensive quantitative measure of disability initially developed specifically for use in people
with brain injuries. The UK version of the Functional Assessment Measure (UK FIM+FAM) is a
version of FIM+FAM designed to improve consistency of measurement, especially for the more
subjective components of the measure.

UK FIM+FAM is the mandatory outcome measure for rehabilitation units providing or aspiring to
provide specialist rehabilitation services within the UK Rehabilitation Outcomes Collaborative (UK
ROC) database project. Rehabilitation therapy staff at UK ROC units are required to attend formal
training on the use of UK FIM+FAM. This requirement for training means that UK FIM+FAM is
the quantitative measure of disability that the most occupational therapists, physiotherapists,
psychologists, speech and language therapists, nurses and doctors who provide specialist
rehabilitation services in the UK have been trained to use and of which they have experience.

Although FIM+FAM was initially developed as a quantitative measure of disability for use in
people with brain injuries, its comprehensive nature would also make it a suitable basis for
assessment of people with physical and/or mental health issues for entitlement to disability benefits.
UK FIM+FAM includes quantitative assessment of comprehension, expression, reading, writing,
speech intelligibility, social interaction, emotional status, adjustment to limitations, ability to
participate in leisure activities, problem solving, memory, orientation, concentration and safety
awareness. It also includes quantitative assessment of activities of daily living including meal
preparation, laundry, housework, shopping, financial management and ability to participate in
work/education.

UK FIM+FAM’s popular use by staff at specialist rehabilitation units would provide a large pool of
potential assessors with training and experience in its use.

I would like to submit a proposal to use of the UK version of the Functional Assessment Measure as
the basis to assess entitlement to disability benefits.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/nursing/departments/cicelysaunders/resources/tools/fimfam