Petition to Make Fibro classed as a Disability

[25rosclare]

I am probably way behind everyone else but I went to Change.org to sign the petition to stop Winter Fuel Payments and saw a petition asking to officially make Fibromyalgia classed as a disability. I think that would make life a lot easier for people like us. Please sign if you have not.

[EarthSitter1]

Hi 25rosclare it already is sort of as, The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises fibromyalgia as a real and potentially significantly disabling condition.

In the UK, a person is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities.

Some people do already get disability benefits as they say it’s how the condition affects them rather than what the condition is.

Your right it would be a good thing for us if it was just classed as a disability like some other conditions that would automatically be considered for help but I remember when we were treated like malingerers and lazy so things are improving slowly 💙

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

There are only a handful of conditions that are automatically classed as a disability. It is very unlikely that fibromyalgia would ever become one due to fact that not everyone with fibromyalgia meets the criteria for disability or even considers themselves as disabled

[Bananas5 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Visually impaired is automatic but I prefer blind

x

[Carlt in reply to Bananas5]

Why?

Not all visually impaired people are blind and not all visually impaired people are automatically classed as disabled (me, for example).

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Carlt]

I believe it is because she has classed herself as blind for a long time but blind people are more often referred to as visually impaired now even though it is a wider catch all term. Still less of a mouthful than severely sight impaired (blind) / sight impaired (partially sighted).

[Pasanda]

People on low income will still get the Winter Fuel payment

[KimiJay]

Signed! Well posted! Thanks.