Help about ESA new criteria?

jakes-mum

Hello

Ok im a bit confused as I am working on hearsay from a friend with the same illness so please feel free to correct me

I have M.E and am in reciept of ESA (have been for 2 years), I am in the WRAG as though I had backing from my specialist that to return to work would be extremely detrimental to my health, ATOS ignored it and . . well i'll be honest I just lost the will to argue with them

Anyway, part of my problems is I cannot walk more than 30 mtrs without severe problems (I get HRM) and my friend with the same illness has been on MSN telling me about new criteria for the support group being that if you cant walk further than 50 mtrs this should put you in the support group?

I have no idea if this is new criteria in force, proposed changes or just hear say, does anyone know if this is right and opinions on whether I should ring ATOS for a review?

I suppose I just dont want to ring up and look like an idiot as I dont know what im talking about, if im going to fight for the support group id rather go in with a complete understanding of why I think I should be there rather than a lot of 'well ive been told' arguements.

(sorry if this is a bit garbled I have alot of cognitive problems so I have trouble making myself clear please feel free to ask for more explanation if ive totally confused you all)

Cpt.Scarlet

He's only got it half right, the new criteria is called mobilising, you not only have to be unable to walk less than 50m but also be unable to propel a manual wheelchair over the same distance. The wheelchair test is irrelevant of whether you own or have ever used a wheelchair.

rogerblack

In addition, you should claim DLA.

If you can't walk 30m, you qualify as 'virtually unable to walk', and are eligible for high-rate mobility at ~55/week.
I'm applying for DLA with ME.
I have difficulty most times walking 30m, before it causes me 'severe discomfort', or I have to stop through exhaustion.
This qualifies me for DLA-HRM.
(I have to say that the report for ESA was used, and my DLA claim was turned down, on the basis of poor answers on the ESA50 - if you're in the support group for this reason, yourclaim should be stronger. (appeal on the 25th, 11 months later!))

My inability to safely and reliably cook a main meal from ingredients means I'm eligible for low-rate-care at 19.55/week.

My problems with concentration and remaining safe at home may entitle me to medium rate care.
I'm not entitled to high-rate care, as I don't need help at night.

Elle7

rogerblack wrote: »

In addition, you should claim DLA.

If you can't walk 30m, you qualify as 'virtually unable to walk', and are eligible for high-rate mobility at ~55/week.
I'm applying for DLA with ME.
I have difficulty most times walking 30m, before it causes me 'severe discomfort', or I have to stop through exhaustion.
This qualifies me for DLA-HRM.
(I have to say that the report for ESA was used, and my DLA claim was turned down, on the basis of poor answers on the ESA50 - if you're in the support group for this reason, yourclaim should be stronger. (appeal on the 25th, 11 months later!))

My inability to safely and reliably cook a main meal from ingredients means I'm eligible for low-rate-care at 19.55/week.

They already say they are getting Higher Rate Mobility.

My problems with concentration and remaining safe at home may entitle me to medium rate care.
I'm not entitled to high-rate care, as I don't need help at night.

The OP says they already get Higher Rate Mobility.

LadyMorticia

I don't have any advice for you hun, but I also have M.E so know what a horrible condition it is.

pwales_2

if you can push yourself in a wheelchair (whether you own one or not) then wrag im paraplegic with all the bull s**t and im wrag

rogerblack

Elle7 wrote: »

The OP says they already get Higher Rate Mobility.

They must have edited that in afterwards!
Or maybe I just can't read. Meh.

jakes-mum

Thank you all for replying I'm not allowed to self propel a wheelchair, my OT actually refused to give me one with the big wheels at the back to begin with for this reason and I had to beg later on and promise faithfully that I would never self propel to get it changed. DH was having alot of trouble manuveuring the small wheeled one and my mum couldnt move it at all

My specialist and OT will put this in writing if need be. I also cannot sit in any kind of chair other than a recliner for more than 20 minutes as it causes terrible pain in my coccyx and I cant stand for longer than about 15 minutes (im falling apart really :rotfl:) Im banned from driving any further than my own home town centre by my GP (about 5 minutes away) im trying to think what else but my brain is fuzzy, oh yes I have terrible memory right down to turning to oven on, putting things in and then taking them out with my bare hands because I forgot the oven makes things hot :rotfl:or I forget to lock the doors before going to bed, leave the gas hob on etc because of this I also get low rate care aswell.

Lady Morticia, your right its a horrible illness and steals your life

LadyMorticia

jakes-mum wrote: »

Thank you all for replying I'm not allowed to self propel a wheelchair, my OT actually refused to give me one with the big wheels at the back to begin with for this reason and I had to beg later on and promise faithfully that I would never self propel to get it changed. DH was having alot of trouble manuveuring the small wheeled one and my mum couldnt move it at all

My specialist and OT will put this in writing if need be. I also cannot sit in any kind of chair other than a recliner for more than 20 minutes as it causes terrible pain in my coccyx and I cant stand for longer than about 15 minutes (im falling apart really :rotfl:) Im banned from driving any further than my own home town centre by my GP (about 5 minutes away) im trying to think what else but my brain is fuzzy, oh yes I have terrible memory right down to turning to oven on, putting things in and then taking them out with my bare hands because I forgot the oven makes things hot :rotfl:or I forget to lock the doors before going to bed, leave the gas hob on etc because of this I also get low rate care aswell.

Lady Morticia, your right its a horrible illness and steals your life

It certainly does.

I'm currently under the care of the local M.E Service, trying to do this pacing stuff. I'm meant to do 5 hours of high activity a day. I can't manage that at all and the service doesn't have any "lee-way". If pacing doesn't work, then you're discharged with no further help.

It doesn't help that my M.E is really severe at the moment.

jakes-mum

:eek: my local M.E specialist hasn't tried to push pacing at all, my OT is forever telling me off for not resting enough and both have said to even try building up my activities would be crazy, 5 hrs is a huge amount for even a well person!

I feel for you, if I do too much I fell physically sick, my body is like lead, its like slipping into oblivion . . ugh its so hard to explain!! Im so thankful for my blue badge, without it I wouldnt even be able to go to the bank by myself as our town parking is quite a way from the town centre and its all double yellows. It seems ive had M.E since I was 18 but was only diagnosed at 30. My eldest sister also has it, she was diagnosed at 18 as well after she had Glandular Fever and started to come out the other side a few years ago . . shes 38 now but it does give me hope to see her. My poor mum though, she has been looking after children with M.E for 20 years now

LadyMorticia

jakes-mum wrote: »

:eek: my local M.E specialist hasn't tried to push pacing at all, my OT is forever telling me off for not resting enough and both have said to even try building up my activities would be crazy, 5 hrs is a huge amount for even a well person!

I feel for you, if I do too much I fell physically sick, my body is like lead, its like slipping into oblivion . . ugh its so hard to explain!! Im so thankful for my blue badge, without it I wouldnt even be able to go to the bank by myself as our town parking is quite a way from the town centre and its all double yellows. It seems ive had M.E since I was 18 but was only diagnosed at 30. My eldest sister also has it, she was diagnosed at 18 as well after she had Glandular Fever and started to come out the other side a few years ago . . shes 38 now but it does give me hope to see her. My poor mum though, she has been looking after children with M.E for 20 years now

The service here is really just pacing based. If pacing doesn't work, then they deem you a "no hoper" I guess, like pacing is the only answer to M.E. =/ I have a few local friends who have gone to the same clinic as me and they have said it hasn't helped them at all.

I'm trying so hard and I feel like a failure.

I have a blue badge too and it helps immensely, especially with the wider spaces for the wheelchair.

I got my M.E after I had glandular fever and I never recovered. All I seem to be getting is worse. I'm 24 and feel like I'm 84 sometimes. I had so many hopes and aspirations but I've always been ill with something, even since I was in my early teens. I just want to get better so that I can make something of myself.

I'm really sorry you have to go through such a horrible illness. It sounds like you have a supportive medical team though, which I know can help drastically.:grouphug: