M.E / C.F.S - what benifits are out there???

jojoward79

Hi, Im new to this site so please bear with me...

I was diagnosed with M.E approx 5 years ago and subsequently lost my job, approx 2 years ago (big legal battle which ultimately made my condition worse!). I currently receive incapacity benifit (after a long hard struggle and many assessments) but thats it, nothing else. Unfortunately I have amassed a lot of debt on credit cards - partly left over from my well paid, fully employed days and the rest from trying to survive on little to no money. However, I seem to be penalized for my boyfriends 'good job' and expected to live offf him. He also has savings which, even though we are not married, I am suppossed to use them to pay my debts/ live off of. Bizarre

Just wondered if there was anyone else out there in a similar situation with any advice on benifits etc.
Thanks,
Jo

hjb123

Hiya,

Do you live with your boyfriend then? I think its unfair you should be penalised for what he earns!

I am a CFS sufferer although I have only been off work since December 2004. I had my employment contract terminated in May 2005 as a result of my ill health and the fact that WHS couldnt keep my job open any longer - in a way I guess I was glad! I was on Incapacity Benefit from then til November when the stupid b****y DWP stopped it as they considered me fit to work!

I had had a medical at the local jobcentre in October which I scored a grand total of 'nil' points in! I am appealing obviously as I feel that ME/CFS is a varying illness that is hard to measure!

I was meant to have my appeal tribunal on 7th February but I have asked for postponement as I have recently had blood tests which have shown up possible Liver Infection (not really sure what that means) and have to have repeat tests that week to check up and dont want the tribunal to affect the results?! I went to the Local Citizens Advice Bureau this last week and it just so happened that there was an ME Support worker in on that day and I have an appointment with him this next week which I am glad about as it means someone who understands what I am going through and has helped others in the same situation!

I would also be interested to know what benefits are avaialbe to people in our condition as it is so difficult to manage financially and I know I wouldnt be able to manage without the support of my family and friends!

H

maris_crane

if you live with your boyfriend I don't see why you should be treated any differently than a married couple and then his earnings can be taken into consideration Want your cake and eat it? :T

krisskross

jojoward79 wrote:

Hi, Im new to this site so please bear with me...

I was diagnosed with M.E approx 5 years ago and subsequently lost my job, approx 2 years ago (big legal battle which ultimately made my condition worse!). I currently receive incapacity benifit (after a long hard struggle and many assessments) but thats it, nothing else. Unfortunately I have amassed a lot of debt on credit cards - partly left over from my well paid, fully employed days and the rest from trying to survive on little to no money. However, I seem to be penalized for my boyfriends 'good job' and expected to live offf him. He also has savings which, even though we are not married, I am suppossed to use them to pay my debts/ live off of. Bizarre

Just wondered if there was anyone else out there in a similar situation with any advice on benifits etc.
Thanks,
Jo

I am sorry you are ill but if you are in receipt of the benefit that you are entitled to then I don't think you can get any more. State benefits are not meant to pay off credit card debts.

Perhaps you could look on the debtfree wannabe board for advice.

jojoward79

Thanks to everyone that has replied. However, in response to the more 'negative' comments, maybe I did not explain myself properly. I am not looking for the government to pay my debts for me - neither do I "want my cake and eat it" Not a very helpful response. The only reason I mentioned my financial situation was to help show that through illness and lack of state support I have ammassed debts (not prada shopping but tescos food & prescription charges...). I was hoping to find other people in my situation that could advise me about any other benifits out there that I may be entitled to. As M.E / C.F.S is such a fluctuating problem it is difficult to be seen as eligible/ ill/ disabled all of the time. People with knowledge of this condition will understand. Yes I do live with my boyfriend in our house with a joint mortgage (all set up and organised before I was ill). He currently covers ALL household and living costs with no input from me any more, therefore I do not agree that his earnings (which are being used for us both to live) should also be assessed with regards to my claims. I could understand this if I was after housing benifit...but I am not. Maybe this isnt the correct forum for my questions

jojoward79

H,

Good luck in your appeal. I know only too well how the DWP assessments go. It is all pot luck - I have had 3 with M.E 'non-believers' who say its all in your head, but I have also had 2 with some very helpful Dr's that have totally understood the whole 'good days, bad days' thing. Like you say...couldnt have got this far without family and friends. I just wanted to see if there was any other help out there since I last looked. Its great to hear that you found a support worker...I will definately get back in touch with my local CAB and ask them to find one in my area (I didnt know they existed!).
Thanks for your help and good luck for the future
Jo

crutches

have you applied for DLA? if you really cant work that is the benefit for you and is payed regardless of income.I have fibromyalgia and.
I was dropped by my employer 3 yrs ago and have been on Inc.ben for 2 yrs on and off ever since .My husbands self empl.income and my IB have to support us all.We didnt bargain for any of this either but relationships are about supporting each other through thick and thin.
If your boyfriends income is low perhaps you are entitled to council tax benefit?

hjb123

jojoward79 wrote:

H,

Good luck in your appeal. I know only too well how the DWP assessments go. It is all pot luck - I have had 3 with M.E 'non-believers' who say its all in your head, but I have also had 2 with some very helpful Dr's that have totally understood the whole 'good days, bad days' thing. Like you say...couldnt have got this far without family and friends. I just wanted to see if there was any other help out there since I last looked. Its great to hear that you found a support worker...I will definately get back in touch with my local CAB and ask them to find one in my area (I didnt know they existed!).
Thanks for your help and good luck for the future
Jo

I didnt know that he existed til the other day either! I just happened to pop into the CAB on the day that he was working from there! Pot luck! Not often something like that happens to me but am glad that it did!

What area are you from?

I would of thought that your local CAB should be able to point you in the direction of a local support worker like this!

I had been getting help from Welfare Rights service til this last week and just thought that would get another view (without telling eachone that I was!), and boy am I glad I did!

PS. Got letter through post this afternoon from appeals service saying that they have accepted the request for a postponement of my appeal tribunal!

H

$17mma

You need to consider DLA and if your partner is looking after you careers allowance.


www.welfarerights.co.uk

will look at your situ and will be able to calculate what you are entitled to and will help you with the forms and if necessary appeal on your behalf.

CindyC_2

Re Carers Allowance:
You would need to be on the middle or higher rate of DLA (unlikely with M.E.) and your carer could only earn about £80 max and look after you for 35 hours per week.

Any couple living together now (married or LTAHAW/gay partners/etc.) would not qualify for any income based benefit if one of them was in full time employment - and that means working over 24hrs - unless they were on a very low income (which with today's minimum wage is increasing rare by the govt. rules)

Re unsympathetic doctors and people - unless people have experienced these kind of illnesses it is hard to understand. Plus there are so many shirkers and career benefit claimants (sometimes running through several generations) that it is difficult not to be sceptical at times - especially when they go into the jobcentres with the latest mobile phones, dripping in gold jewellry and designer clothes - to see some of the lowest paid members of the Civil Service.

becky004

maris_crane wrote:

if you live with your boyfriend I don't see why you should be treated any differently than a married couple and then his earnings can be taken into consideration Want your cake and eat it? :T

It appears this person likes to disrespect people who are unable to work through ill health. He has posted rude remarks in other posts to people who dare to claim benefits! Is obviously insecure if he feels better about himself by being obnoxious to others. Get down from your cross Maris you are not judge and jury.