The data elements in this cluster are collected to help assess access to and use of mainstream services by people with varying levels of support need. It is the respondent’s perception about whether a long-term health condition or disability restricts their everyday activities that is important.

It is expected that for children aged 5–14 years, the items in this cluster would be collected from a proxy (parent/guardian/teacher answering on the child's behalf).

This data cluster is designed for the whole mainstream population and should be used to collect information from the respondent or a proxy/carer answering on their behalf. Note that all people, both adults and children, are in scope for the Standardised Disability Flag questions. The cluster is seeking to identify the extent to which, due to a long-term health condition or disability, a respondent cannot undertake everyday activities that other people in a similar age group would normally be able to carry out. Explain to the respondent that the question is asked in the context of a long-term health condition or disability that has lasted, or is expected to last, 6 months or more. The responses are phrased in response to the question 'For each of the following activities, do you need help/supervision, have difficulty, or use aids/equipment/medications? (choose one answer for each row)'.

Also required is the following standard preamble to the question:

The next question is about whether a long-term health condition or disability restricts your everyday activities.

A long-term health condition is one that has lasted, or is expected to last, 6 months or more.

Examples of long-term health conditions that might restrict your everyday activities include severe asthma, epilepsy, mental health condition, hearing loss, arthritis, depression, autism, kidney disease, chronic pain, speech impairment, stroke.

Disability is a general term that covers:

• impairments in body structures or functions (for example, loss or abnormality of a body part)
• limitations in everyday activities (such as difficulty bathing or managing daily routines)
• restrictions in participation in life situations (such as needing special arrangements to attend work).

Note that:

• A long-term health condition or disability does not have to be medically diagnosed—it should be self-reported from the perspective of the respondent or a proxy/carer answering on their behalf. For example, the service worker may presume that the respondent is experiencing difficulty but the respondent may have found ways of overcoming their limitations and report that they have no difficulty. Alternatively, the respondent may be experiencing difficulties that are not readily apparent to the worker.
• Pregnancy is not considered to be a disability or long-term health condition although it lasts more than 6 months. If a respondent has developed an adverse health condition as a result of their pregnancy which has lasted, or is expected to last, 6 months or more, then the respondent should report any restrictions that arise from having this long-term health condition.
• Clients, including children, who do not have any limitations due to a long-term health condition or disability should be recorded as ‘Have no difficulty’. It is important to collect data on every client so that the proportion of clients who have a restriction due to long-term health condition or disability can be measured.
• Children should be assessed on the basis of their age and appropriateness of activities that other children in a similar age group would normally be able to carry out.