Hi , I was diagnosed with FM 18 months ago, this was after 6 years of having every other test come back normal. My GP made the diagnosis and after seeing many posts on here re seeing a consultant I asked the question. Should you refer me to a rheumatologist, my gp said what for ? There waiting lists are very long, you wouldn't be a priority as they deal with more pressing issues and we as GPs are able to make a diagnosis which given your medical records we have done . Roll on to now I applied for ESA 2 years ago and was put in a support group so no need to look for work . I have recently had contact from those lovely people at the DWP requesting an work capability questionnaire be filled in. So I have done this almost exactly the same as 2 years ago , now they are asking for all my medical records again.
My worry is that they will say my FM won't be accepted as it was only a GP diagnosis.
My stress level is thru the roof again and I'm worrying constantly...I also have many other issues on top and PTSD being one of them I'm all over the place.
Any thoughts or advice would be great .
Heads ruminating.......
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Mrdiagnosis
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Thank you. Sometimes it's just a message like that from a stranger that gives you the little confidence to say , ok I've done the right thing and to not stress as much .
I'm unsure what you mean ? How easier to get through ? Filling out forms ?
The DWP aren't consistent are they . I went through thier assessment for Pip and was awarded it . Now they are doing the same thing for ESA which I already get and was in a support group so didn't have to worry about anything.
They now want to have my medical records which they already had for my Pip.
They should just talk between benefit department instead of putting vulnerable people through this sort of stress and anxiety.
There are changes coming up to the way ESA /UC is assessed. Basically unless you receive PIP you will not get the disabled component of ESA. At the present time my niece gets the disability component of UC I have told her to apply for PIP. I had real problems with getting PIP as the assessor basically lied. Having only won my ESA claim six months before I used the assessors report to win my claim on mandatory reconsideration.
I have awarded both esa and pip in the last few years with a Gp diagnosis. Remember that it is not the condition that you have but the effects of the condition that you have that count.
Take a deep breathe, make yourself a cuppa and say out loud ( as long as your not out in public) Stuff you DWP you will not beat me, You can use other words of course..
Once you start to panic you may as well Give it up, Your FM will start throwing lots of KaKa your way and the only people who will walk away unscathed is them!!
If you are on ESA support group try not to panic, You do not have to personally give your medical notes over, Some where on the form will be a permission bit so they can see your notes and your doctor says here we go again,
They want everybody on to universal credit,Which in my case is a load of old manure, depending on your own circs may go straight ahead and sail through the experience with a smooth journey (keep saying that in your head,If you are not already on PIP go ahead and apply,your local carers will help you or CAB,
They've helped so many people Its a doddle for them, Try not to get worried and bogged down,Break down the forms,ie one page in the morning and another in the afternoon?Good luck on your personal adventure and don't forget to breathe and not get bogged down.
We don't have a CAB local here and I've spent hours phoning the numbers without anyone answering . The last time CAB did help me and went through the rules with me for ESA . I can't go onto universal credit because I get contribution based ESA having too much savings and a partner husband who works and earns too much. I was told contributions based ESA was only for 365 days . Then a friend of mine said I'm on ESA contribution based and am in a support group and have been getting it for 3 years. So I had to put in a formal complaint about why I hadn't been given that option . I then had the head of the department call me explain why I wasn't entitled. I had to fight them tooth and nail and then I was diagnosed with PTSD . They then decided to give me ESA and put me in a support group. Funny that ....
How on earth vulnerable people and people who have neurodiversity and mental health issues are supposed to Navigate this awful system is beyond me.
Unless you have a small semblance of cognitive function (which they then bate you for and refuse benefits because you can think for yourself) is beyond me. It's just a constant fight with these people.
Then it depends what assessor you get and how they "interpret" the rules .
It's draining and Ridiculous and life changing for some people.
Time it changed but I doubt it will because if your not "Normal" or Healthy then you are treated like dirt ....
My Hubby was on ESA support group and contribuation based and I was on carers allowance,They said I had to be on ESA with my Hubby.Then decided I didn't need housing or council tax,I thought that was normal.
Abount six months in and they took us both off ESA and my husband onto pension and no housing benefit,They do as they please.So now just Pension and carers Having to use our PIP's to pay our bills, We were saving for a day van so we were not just wasting away our lives indoors,Then they said we both had to go on universal credit,
What an absolute sham!!
We tried to stay calm, Until they said they had paid us too much ESA and they were taking it back, Talk about major stress,
They now give us 300 a month if we are lucky since it keeps changing every month and not for the better either.
I don't know how it works now, but when I was diagnosed with FM, over 10 years ago now, it could only be diagnosed by a Rheumatologist consultant, and they did a pain test on various parts of my body, but this was of course only done after 2 years of blood tests to rule out everything else. As for DWP, they usually send people to their own appointed doctors, but once you've officially been diagnosed with FM, I don't understand why anyone needs to re-apply, or be re-assessed, it's not like we ever miraculously get better is it! Once we have FM we have it for life, DWP need to recognise this!!
Try Meditation 🧘♂️ it helps you to relax, I know what it's like I'm dreading the round of Arguing with them next year, Have had to appeal every time to get what I'm Entitled too take care 🙂
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