Disability

[Saz1107]

Is fybromyalgia recognized as a disability

[Rose54]

Hi

No its not however it can be a disabling illness so you can be disabled with it

[debster]

No however it was said to be a factor before the changes

[Hidden]

The effects of fibro can be disabling, as it affects people differently. Interesting question and I suppose it's the same for a lot of conditions. One person who has a stroke can make a complete, or almost complete recovery, another will be left with impairments which can be severe. Even conditions from birth--- one person with Autism, or Down Syndrome , can be severely affected making independent living impossible while another with the same condition might live with minimal support.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

like others have said , fibromyalgia is not classed as a disability - it is a long-term/chronic health condition.

However, depending on the severity of your symptoms - it can have a disabling effect on your day to day life, and you may be covered by the Equality Act 2010

"You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities."

[FoggyMoggy]

If you mean for disability benefits purposes, Saz, yes it can and it is. You can apply for ESA and PIP with it. With PIP it's not the disability but how it impacts on your life. If you are talking more in general terms about how others perceive it then many people don't recognise it as a disability. But it completely fits the definition of disability. I usually say long term illness if people look at me goggle-eyed if I use the term disability. It is their problem if they don't recognise invisible illnesses as a disability. I tell them that cancer is often invisible but they would recognise that as disabling, I would hope

[Milynda]

Yes it is.