I started this journey almost 3 years ago, but finally and after fighting with University (employer) and its Occupational Physician, and after appealing to University Pension when they gave me only partial-incapacity, I got the full pension and I won the appeal. I am recognised as total incapacity because of my fibro. I also managed to applied to PPI and I got it first time around. I am truly happy. I am still bed-bound most days, and still full of pain, but I managed to make the establishment to recognised it and that feels really good.
I know there are many of us with fibro, desperate because we can't work, but they do not recognise our illness, so I wanted to share with you my success. Took 3 years of battles and paperwork, but at the end, I got there!
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pochola1
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Well done pochola1 👏👏👏 for fighting and staying strong enough to get what you deserved my employer won't finish me up he's waiting for me to hand my notice in and I won't give in so I'm going to take some of your strength and hang on till they give in you have given me inspiration ☺
Yes, I understand you perfectly. The University (one of the top 10 in this country, would you believe it?) was telling me that I wasn't fit to work but didn't want to send me to the Occupational Physician. When after many battles backwards and forwards, they did accepted that I wasn't going unless they referred me to the OP they did. He saw me first and said that he understood that once you are taking morphine,and suffering badly from Fibrofog, it is almost impossible to have the security of a 100% clear mind. As most of my work involved assessing lecturers and students exams, it was out of the question for me to continue. It looked as he was happy to give me the total incapacity...
But the University did something communicated with the Pension Scheme and after further delays, I receive an outcome with a partial incapacity. Back to lawyers, doctors and Pension Scheme papers. Another assessment and more waiting time...
But at the end, they did have to accept that when the brain is not reliable, is either not reliable or reliable, there is not a middle term, no partial incapacity. I did having to engage an employment lawyer, as the behaviour of the University was unacceptable. Costed me a few thousands, but he sorted the University at once and I was able to received some compensation from the University for their bullying and misbehaviour!!! (If you pay union fees, the union can do this for you without any extra cost)
I have now managed to win the appeal and I will get my pension from the University Pension Scheme as total incapacity. But as when you appeal, you do not get a single payment, I am now due 2 whole years of arrears!!!! I honestly think they do it so you give up the appeal due to lack of funds to live in the meantime. Luckily, my husband was happy not only to support me but also to give up our way of living so we could subsist with the lack of my wage or my pension these years. I stopped working on October 2014 officially, and by the time I get the money will be October 2016!! Who anyone can live without any income that long? Yes, I was lucky that I managed to get my PIP at the start of this year, but that is not comparable to my wage or the pension.
Those 2 years of arrears are going to come at the right time and a nice holidays with my lovely husband is very much planned!!!
I share this because with so many posts from people with fibro having to give up work and receiving very little help/money or understanding is important you all know that sometimes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train coming!!!!
So glad you have at last won your battle. All the stress of the last three years have probably added to your fibro problems so hopefully now it is over you might day by day start to pick up.x
pochola1 , I'm very happy you finally got what you deserved!! 👏👏 I am from the US but I hope this helps some of my friends I've made being on this site.Be blessed. Peck.🐤
Good for you!!! I recently retired early from NHS but only took 6 months to finalise WITH the
backing of my union rep. Not sure if I would have done it on my own..Its the old story really we pay but trying to get out is a real fight!
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Finally got some money coming through at last. :)
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