Fibromyalgia

Samgill_2

New to forums, just got diagnosed with fibromyalgia and me, wondered what I am able to claim, hope someone can help!!

jazabelle

If you can't walk far with it, you could try for the Disability Living Allowance mobility side, and if you need care, the care side. But it's really, really difficult to get. The best bet would be to get loads of help with the application process, such as from your local CAB. You also need to focus on your symptoms and what help you need, not what diagnosis you have, if you see what I mean.

If you can't work full time I think Employment and Support Allowance is another you can try for.

The cafe chat thread has lots of people who have Fibro, including me, if you want a chat or some support please come and join us!

jazabelle

Out of interest - who diagnosed you with those conditions?

Samgill_2

my doctor at the hosital sorry cant spell very well took me 5 years cant do alot at all and got a nurse at hossital i see sam

jazabelle

A rheumatologist?

Invasion

Hi Sam, I have ME and possible fibro and have had for coming up 3 years now, have they/are they going to give you any support with things like pacing to help manage your condition?

Ruby_Moon

Sam, if you have a diagnosis you are halfway there to helping you out with any kind of benefits and they are largely dependent on whether or not you can work or not.
Even if you are at work you are still able to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which is broken up into two elements. A mobility element and a care element.
DLA is, in my opinion, no more harder to get than any other benefit if you are genuinely in need of it. It is a simple to apply for benefit which asks questions about your day to day living needs and care needs and the best way to answer these questions is to be absolutely honest. If you feel fantastic 2 days a week, say so! Do not fill the form out based on "how you feel on your worst day".
The people who award these benefits are not stupid and they know when someone is exagerating or bending the truth.
Most of the people I know who claim DLA don't work and the couple who do have amputations and get to work by Taxi. Its having the DLA that helps them pay for the taxi fares and keeps them working.

There are other benefits you can claim too but as I say, the best place to start is establising if you are going to be working or not and if so, how many hours a week.

Unity

jazabelle wrote: »

If you can't walk far with it, you could try for the Disability Living Allowance mobility side, and if you need care, the care side. But it's really, really difficult to get. The best bet would be to get loads of help with the application process, such as from your local CAB. You also need to focus on your symptoms and what help you need, not what diagnosis you have, if you see what I mean.

If you can't work full time I think Employment and Support Allowance is another you can try for.

The cafe chat thread has lots of people who have Fibro, including me, if you want a chat or some support please come and join us!

Jazzabelle is correct - DLA can be really difficult to obtain and you do need help from either Welfare Rights or CAB. It is possible to be awarded DLA, still work and still drive, but either of these organisations can help you best and for free.

If you want to find which benefits you can claim then there is a Disabled Helpline : http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011169

jazabelle

Well, sadly a lot of people that are genuinely in need of DLA do get turned down. The process is very stressful and can leave you feeling rather crap.

Paparika

Hi Sam

I got diagnosed this this year, well done, first step has been done, you've been given a name for whats going on.l

I bet it's a relief knowing it wasn't in your head.only a rheumatoid arthritis doctor can give you the diagnosis, if it wasn't make your gp get you an appointment with one, if it was then good thats all done out the way, you won't really be seeing that doctor again.

Depending how bad it is for you, you have choices,

DLA, fibros can get it, it's how you word it on your forms, suggest dial, cab and even your gp to help you fill out the forms, i'm a fibro, there are lots of us on here that have it and have dla. but some are still fighting for it, it's not easy but it is possible.

If you can no longer work, then you can apply for ESA (replaced incapacity benefit).
if you get dla, you may also if you get esa get the disability premium (still waiting to get mine, sent 2 forms in now both are stuck in the post, local benefits agency refused to have them hand delivered) 2 months work of backdated money so far for me.

There is a lot of help out there, it all depends what rate dla you get if at all.


But the most important thing is support, as said the old crocks cafe on here, where we all mingle for a (cyber) coffee and cake or what ever is availble and its pet friendly.

Learn to listen to your body, rest when it says, forget the housework, if you can't do it then so be it..... your gp will be informed of your diagnosis, they will now be supporting you in how to manage your illness.

sunnyone

Paparika wrote: »

Hi Sam

I got diagnosed this this year, well done, first step has been done, you've been given a name for whats going on.l

I bet it's a relief knowing it wasn't in your head.only a rheumatoid arthritis doctor can give you the diagnosis, if it wasn't make your gp get you an appointment with one, if it was then good thats all done out the way, you won't really be seeing that doctor again.

Depending how bad it is for you, you have choices,

DLA, fibros can get it, it's how you word it on your forms, suggest dial, cab and even your gp to help you fill out the forms, i'm a fibro, there are lots of us on here that have it and have dla. but some are still fighting for it, it's not easy but it is possible.

If you can no longer work, then you can apply for ESA (replaced incapacity benefit).
if you get dla, you may also if you get esa get the disability premium (still waiting to get mine, sent 2 forms in now both are stuck in the post, local benefits agency refused to have them hand delivered) 2 months work of backdated money so far for me.

There is a lot of help out there, it all depends what rate dla you get if at all.


But the most important thing is support, as said the old crocks cafe on here, where we all mingle for a (cyber) coffee and cake or what ever is availble and its pet friendly.

Learn to listen to your body, rest when it says, forget the housework, if you can't do it then so be it..... your gp will be informed of your diagnosis, they will now be supporting you in how to manage your illness.

I think that you mean a consultant rhumatologist (sp).

sunny