Fibromyalgia/CFS/ME & benefits

Gilly26

hi i have been in pain for over 18months eventually i have seen a specialist who was fab...i now have confirmation i aint going mad!:mad:

he has dignosed me with Fibro however i have restless less fatigue and slepp deprivation so not sure if i have fibro & ME/CFS with assomina? can anyone make head or tail of what i have???

also even though i'm in agony and exhausted i have a 6 year old, a mortgage and i'm a single mother working full-time as a social worker. i can afford to give up work or even go part-time can i claim any DLA? i have applied for a Blue Budge:(

Gilly26

i find that really offensive, i have memory loss with my condition and issues with my thought process which i sometimes have problems with my spelling..... and as for knowing the benefits system i am a social worker not a benefits advisor. thanks for pointing all your concerns out but i am here to gain advice not rude comments questioning my illness or employment. as for not knowing how to complete a new thread i only joined a few days ago and not familiar with this site.

if any other users of this forum find the above message sent from Blackpool saver please report as nothing can be done unless others also find the message offensive. Thanks

rogerblack

DLA is difficult.
(I'm applying, with CFS/ME and have a tribunal on the 25th. I believe I have a strong case for low-rate care, a reasonable one for medium rate, a good case for low rate mobility, and a reasonable one for high rate).

In short.
If your condition means - through fatigue, or inability to effectively complete it - that you can't reliably cook a main meal from ingredients, including chopping ingredients/... (not merely a microwave meal) - you're eligable for low-rate care.

If you reasonably require help throughout the day (personal help, not help with shopping, ...), for a significant time, you'd be eligible for mid-rate care.
And if you require help during the night - high rate. If you sleep through the night - even restlessly - and don't require help getting to the loo, for example - you're unlikely to get high-rate.

If you need help outside to walk safely, then low-rate mobility, and if you can show that you cannot usually walk without 'severe pain or discomfort' - high rate.

For care needs, you need to show how you reasonably need a 'substantial' amount of help throughout the day - even if you don't receive it.
This might be for example with helping you to cook safely - a 'full main meal'. It would _NOT_ be cooking for you.

Gilly26

Thanks Rogerblack for the advice

GlasweJen

If you have no physical problems with care needs I honestly don't think you'll get DLA. How can you claim that you're so exhausted that you can't shower ( for example) but hold down a responsible job as a social worker?

Everyone is affected differently by CFS/fibro and in your case I would seriously question your claim, forgetfulness due to illness but still work in an area where you need to be on your toes? What does your manager make of that?

morledge142

good look with your tribunal roger.

i thought i was well prepared when i went in but regards personal care/walking - they weren't interested in how much pain i was is only if i could walk/if i did my own personal care yes/no.

it was awful, had oh there too adn we were stunned into silence.

they kep interrupting us and cutting us off as well when we tred to elaborate or describe something.

no answer as yet.

i get lrc at moment and this appeal is been ongoing for over a year - so you reaaly need a good case to claim mobility or care needs so as said, i think if you are working it would be difficult to prove in that job.

OneYorkshireLass

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

also you would know how to spell insomnia too

One in four teachers can't spell. I don't believe there are stats on social workers .... yet. I'm sure the Daily Mail are working on it.

OP I think you're even less likely to get a blue badge than you are DLA.

Have you spoken to your employers about your diagnosis? You should discuss with them your hours and your pain levels when at work.
A referral to occupational health might be worthwhile. They'll be specially designed chairs to use to lessen your pain a little. The position of your desk is important too (whether it's close to the bathroom/kitchen etc).
If you decide to lessen your hours, you may be entitled to Income Support (under 16 hours ...) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018708

There are UK ME/CFS support sites, such as
http://foggyfriends.org/
http://forum.chronicfatiguesyndrome.me.uk/
There are members with Fibro on these sites too.

The benefits and work forum may be useful also:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum

MrsManda

As this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3606951 says it's about gilly 26 it may be helpful to the OP to read it alongside this thread with regards to claiming DLA.

jakes-mum

Im a M.E sufferer and I get HRM and LRC DLA, I get the HRM because I can not walk further than 50 mtres . . . and I get LRC because I tend to forget that the oven makes things hot and try to take trays out without oven gloves, I forget ive turned the gas hob on and just wander off to the next room to watch TV and if I do manage to get the tray from oven thing right, 9/10 times ill drop the tray on the floor as my wrists give way.

I only got a blue badge through my HRM, I couldnt get one before my HRM got approved. I suppose the question is do you have trouble walking any distance as that seems to be the main criteria for and M.E/fibro sufferer to get DLA or Blue Badge, ive not heard of an M.E/Fibro patient getting a blue badge without the DLA (unless they happen to have another illness, im not saying it cant be done but I would have thought with our kind of illness its going to be a walking issue so you might as well do DLA first), so if you find it extremely difficult to walk further than 50 mtrs then apply for DLA and then the blue badge should you get HRM.

LadyMorticia

jakes-mum wrote: »

Im a M.E sufferer and I get HRM and LRC DLA, I get the HRM because I can not walk further than 50 mtres . . . and I get LRC because I tend to forget that the oven makes things hot and try to take trays out without oven gloves, I forget ive turned the gas hob on and just wander off to the next room to watch TV and if I do manage to get the tray from oven thing right, 9/10 times ill drop the tray on the floor as my wrists give way.

I only got a blue badge through my HRM, I couldnt get one before my HRM got approved. I suppose the question is do you have trouble walking any distance as that seems to be the main criteria for and M.E/fibro sufferer to get DLA or Blue Badge, ive not heard of an M.E/Fibro patient getting a blue badge without the DLA (unless they happen to have another illness, im not saying it cant be done but I would have thought with our kind of illness its going to be a walking issue so you might as well do DLA first), so if you find it extremely difficult to walk further than 50 mtrs then apply for DLA and then the blue badge should you get HRM.

I got my BB without HRM but I did see an OT who assessed me for it and my BB is based on both my M.E and my mental health i.e. I can't walk far at all but I also need the car near because I have alot of anxiety attacks.

luminated

GlasweJen wrote: »

Everyone is affected differently by CFS/fibro and in your case I would seriously question your claim, forgetfulness due to illness but still work in an area where you need to be on your toes? What does your manager make of that?

What on earth has that to do you with you and in what way does it help the OP's question?

And back on topic I have a BB supported by my GP and went through a long Local Autority telephone assessment but was turned down for LRM or HRM. I got LRC and will attend tribunal as soon as it comes through.

My hopes for the Tribunal match those of Roger Black. I have care and mobility needs because of severe ME/CFS.

You need to get advice from CAB, Welfare Rights or DIAL if any of them have the time as they are all very stretched.