Fibromyalgia/CFS/ME & benefits

GlasweJen

I'm autistic. I've also got "chronic fatigue syndrome" written on my medical notes from a bad spell i went through during uni (though i'm not sure i ever had it to be honest).

I didn't say that DLA was for junk food (though some people on this board have said in the past that they use theirs for that due to not being able to cook). You said that some people come in from work at night too tired to prepare a meal and I said that some healthy people are in the same predicament. Maybe because they're doing 50 hour weeks to support a family, maybe because they have an extremely physical job, maybe because they're feeling under the weather and work's taken it out of them. Doesn't make that person disabled so counting care needs after a working day probably (not sure but my observations match what I'm about to say) is on a par with claiming for a child, i.e. above and beyond a healthy person without the condition.

Hell my condition doesn't normally make me tired but there are days where I get out the taxi and just want to veg on the couch and my meals are all wrapped up in the fridge just waiting to be microwaved.

Gilly26

luminated wrote: »

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.

Thanks so much for the support against the critics and the advice:D

Gilly26

Brassedoff wrote: »

I have to agree with a few on here who have asked how you can hold down a demanding job such as a that and suffer from the conditions and manage?

What care and mobility issues do you have because that is the top and tail of the issue. I would suggest that in the current climate they will ask for an in-depth report from your works OT insofar as to the illnesses and how they impact your work/life.

I must say I am really worried you appear to want to seek the unqualified opinion of people on here (me included) when you do a job that can have such an impact on people and their families. One would have expected you to have sought the desired information from the many professional people you doubt have access to in your profession.

Good luck with your illnesses, I hope your lot improves.

Thanks for the reply, i have been struggling with my job for 18 months in totall however due to the nature of my role i work with care leavers most of my work is office based/paper work thank goodness, however i do have client appointments weekly and co-ordinate a lot of meetings. i use all my energy to continue to work and then collapse when i get home. i do use annual leave when feeling too ill to go to work and when i am well i work extra hours to build up my toil, giving me hours to take off when needed in emergencies.

and as for gaining information from other professional, i have only last week disclosed to people @ work that i am ill. i have not spoken to anyone about my illness other than the GP. however Social Workers are not medically trained therefore in my line of work my collegues would have very little knownlwdge of this condition.:(

Gilly26

GlasweJen wrote: »

To be fair there are some healthy workers who are too fatigued to prepare a meal when they get in from work, that's why every village in the UK has a pizza place, a chinese, an indian or something along the lines that deliver hot food to your door for a price. If the DWP started dishing out DLA awards on those grounds then we'd all be snookered.

Also there is a third option, you could always look for a more suitable job for your disability.

my specialist stated that diet is very important fresh veg, fuit etc.... fast food is not the answer and i need to provide my daughter with a good diet...hence my 24 year old son and his girlfriend helps me and cooks/cleans/laundry.:( they know how important it is that i keep earning to finacially pay my mortgage and bills. i could face homelessness if i could not pay my mortgage. yes there are benefits out there to help however as stated by many people its very difficult to prove you are unfit for work with the latest change with benefits system in this country lately.

Gilly26

GlasweJen wrote: »

I'm autistic. I've also got "chronic fatigue syndrome" written on my medical notes from a bad spell i went through during uni (though i'm not sure i ever had it to be honest).

I didn't say that DLA was for junk food (though some people on this board have said in the past that they use theirs for that due to not being able to cook). You said that some people come in from work at night too tired to prepare a meal and I said that some healthy people are in the same predicament. Maybe because they're doing 50 hour weeks to support a family, maybe because they have an extremely physical job, maybe because they're feeling under the weather and work's taken it out of them. Doesn't make that person disabled so counting care needs after a working day probably (not sure but my observations match what I'm about to say) is on a par with claiming for a child, i.e. above and beyond a healthy person without the condition.

Hell my condition doesn't normally make me tired but there are days where I get out the taxi and just want to veg on the couch and my meals are all wrapped up in the fridge just waiting to be microwaved.

its not just about being tired...its also being in extreme pain

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

The DWP state in their own words that DLA "is paid to help you lead a more independent life".

If the ability to work is assisted by the DLA then it's doing exactly what it says on the tin.

So then Glaswejen... Who do you think DLA is for? You seem to have discounted people who work, autistic people and those with CFS. I am guessing you feel it should be reserved for those who can't breath independently or hold a piece of paper?

And yes I think claiming DLA is that you say. For above and beyond a healthy individual because the disability gives needs that a healthy individual does not have. Child claims are the same. It is for needs beyond a child of the same age. DLA is to pay for the additional costs a disability brings about. Those needs don't change if ther person is in work, down the supermarket, round the pub, down the library, up the college.

Our Autistic client if not in PAID work for 4 hours would attend day service for 4 hours funded by the council. Which is preferable on the public purse? His needs are the same at day service as they are at work. His needs would be the same in Timbucktoo and the same in the UK.

GlasweJen

I don't think I know what DLA is for, I know it. You're the one who dragged this conversation off topic asking why I queried the working situation.

The OPs answer indicates low care, can't comment on the mobility. Needs help with cooking (qualifies), laundry (doesn't qualify) and cleaning (doesn't qualify).

OP your pain comes from your fibro, not the CFS. I didn't say I had fibro.

rogerblack

GlasweJen wrote: »

The OPs answer indicates low care, can't comment on the mobility. Needs help with cooking (qualifies), laundry (doesn't qualify) and cleaning (doesn't qualify).

I'll just note that laundry in some circumstances can qualify - if it's part of cleaning up after someone has had an accident at night due to incontinence, for example.
Routine laundry will not.

wattdallas

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Being in work should NOT be a barrier to gaining DLA. The benefit is based upon you care and mobility needs.

In fact in the form there is no part that asks if you are in employment, for how many hours per week, what you job entails and details of you employer. So if there is no section on this why are you being declined DLA based on employment?

Tribunals should be asking questions based upon your form.

The way I view this is:

Children get DLA and go to school. If they can go to school and manage that then should they be getting DLA???

This is no different to an adult working and getting DLA.

If adults are being declined DLA because they work then children should be automatically declined for attending school.[/QUOTE

Working and going to school is completely different - my daughter goes to school most days yet she cannot walk,sit,see,talk and has seizures daily .

Me thinks she is entitled to DLA

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

wattdallas wrote: »

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Being in work should NOT be a barrier to gaining DLA. The benefit is based upon you care and mobility needs.

In fact in the form there is no part that asks if you are in employment, for how many hours per week, what you job entails and details of you employer. So if there is no section on this why are you being declined DLA based on employment?

Tribunals should be asking questions based upon your form.

The way I view this is:

Children get DLA and go to school. If they can go to school and manage that then should they be getting DLA???

This is no different to an adult working and getting DLA.

If adults are being declined DLA because they work then children should be automatically declined for attending school.[/QUOTE

Working and going to school is completely different - my daughter goes to school most days yet she cannot walk,sit,see,talk and has seizures daily .

Me thinks she is entitled to DLA

I don't doubt with those multiple difficulties your daughter can get DLA.

I am surprised she can attend school with that number of problems. Equally I wouldn't expect an adult with multiple problems like that to be attending work.

But that serves to give evidence that DLA is a universal in and out of work/school benefit based on personal needs not on whether the claimant is in employment, schooling or training.