Fibromyalgia. Is this classed as a disability illness? I wondered if to inform the D.L.A. about if it is.

[ladyship]

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

Have you seen the GP regarding this ?? What was said ??

Why would you want to give notice to DLA ??

Are you in employment ??

Do you feel disabled

Are you claiming benefits ??

Have you seen a specialist, regarding condition, if so what was said ??

You need to discuss the above with GP first and have a specialist to sort out your problems and asses your condition.

All the best

BOB

[Bananas5]

Yes it is classed as a disabling condition and you may be entitled to the disability benefit. Now called Personal; Independent Payment (PIP(. This replaces Disability Living Allowance *DLA)

This benefit is awarded to disabled people in or out of work, to meet the extra costs of being disabled.#There are 2 components. Care with standard and higher rate and Mobility with 2 rates as well.

You can apply through the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and you will be sent a form to complete. You will need evidence of your condition from your GP, consultant and any other medical professional who treats you.

You will then face an assessment by Atos, on behalf of DWP, who with the help of a decision maker as to which part of PIP you may b entitled too. Forgot to say you will be awarded points for each task undertaken and you will need a set number to qualify. eg walking a certain distance for the mobility section. Wash, dressing, bathing etc for the care section.

Phew. having said all that it is not an easy benefit to claim any more due to the government cutting this benefit by 20% therefore fewer peple will be eligible.

Good Luck and if you need any more advice just ask.

Pat x

[Calceolaria]

The that people are deterred from applying for benefits, the more the govt will be able to say their wicked plans are working.

[Hidden]

There is absolutely no harm in applying, even if you are borderline in needing care, assistance with or have limited walking. If you don't qualify this time round, at least they will have a bench mark for the future and can see how much worse you have become.

I would advise going to CAB and get help filling it in as some of the questions are worded carefully and if misread, you may give completely the wrong answer.

Yes, unfortunately pain is not classed as debilitating, I think. Ainly because there are no absolutes, and it is variable from person to person, whereas something like RA has specific features that most people have.

As for the gov making it harder to claim, they could release funds from other areas. I recently spoke to someone who works in a postcode area of Glasgow where 94% claim unemployment benefits and all the other assdociated benefits, and she says it is not unusual to see 4 generation families all on benefits.

[Hidden]

Hi, definitely try as the extra money certainly does make a difference to the people like us who need it. I get it and I have crps but that may not be the main reason I was awarded it as I have other orthopaedic problems so I couldn't tell you for sure that it was awarded for the pain condition. Your consultants write statements to support your claim so as long as you are seeing someone who knows of your symptoms and diagnosis it should be fine. Let us all know how u get on. x

[Pained]

I don't think you can get this due to the cutbacks. I filled in their enormous form (I got fibromyalgia & a long term stress, anxiety & panic disorder (for which I have had to be dragged to ATOS once a year), I can't even get the minimum because I don't need any help getting around, etc., with fibro nor stress disorder. It is truly disgusting the cut backs. I even had £13 taken off (what used to be incapacity benefit & now ESA) leaving me just £87.15 a week to live off (I have a private house & a mortgage). A case of ill & vulnerable being worse off. I couldn't even get free prescriptions for 5 years because you didn't on the old IB nor Contribution based ESA, but as the CB ESA was only for 1yr I am now on Income Related ESA (yes, I can get free scripts etc.,but got stopped £13 a week for the 'privilege'!

[welshnut]

You can not get DLA or now PIP because you are in pain, however if that pain prevents you doing things that make you independent in your life then you may qualify. Make sure you read all the questions through properly and answer them fully. It helps if you can get any medical professionals that you deal with to write a report on how your illness effects you.

These benefits are becoming harder and harder to claim and more and more people will be assessed by Atos who will be being paid to not recommend you get the benefits. There is a section that asks about medical equipment you may use next to it, it asks who supplied the equipment if it was not prescribed equipment they ignore it.

Good luck and i hope that your condition improves.

nutty

[Bananas5]

Don't forget that any of the 'tests' you are asked to do are covered by 'repeatedly, reliably, safely and in a timely manner'. If any of these apply then you will be awarded points. You may be able to walk 30 metres but can not repeat the test straight away due to pain. Or sit for long period. Or stand.

These words may not be on the application form but do remember them. Think about what you can do and use them when writing tour answers.

People get confused between ESA and DLA. They are 2 totally seperate benefits.

ESA replaces the old Incapacity Benefit and is awarded if you are sick or disabled and unable to work.

DLA or PIP now, is non means tested and awarded whether you work or not. It is awarded o those who need extra help due to sickness or disability.

DWP have said right from day one they will be cutting 20% from the bill. As this benefit only applies to 16 - 64 this does mean an awful lot of people will lose out.

Good luck

Pat x

[ladyship in reply to Bananas5]

Thank you for your reply. I already get DLA but my nurse did advise me to let them know.Thats why i asked all of you if the Fibromyalgia was classed as disable illness.thank you again.

[Bananas5 in reply to ladyship]

It's very hard to put it all into a sensible answer! I have spent the last 5 years since WCA was first introduce by Labour campaigning it will never work. and it doesn't.. Long hard road.

Be warned though. if you don't get awarded ESA support group your DLA is at risk of being taken away. So get someone good to help you with your form filling. \Think of everything and write it down.

I got ESA support recently just by submitting forms but I am only blind.

Shout if you need any more help.

Pat x

[Hidden]

hi bluebell99 I also have fibromyalgia and I am in constant pain even pain killers only takes the edge off the pain .am on amatripline (anti depressants) dissolvable cocodamol and oral morphi use to be on the oral moph co codamol an matrizipram but the matrizipram knocked me out cold I took the 1st one on a Friday and I swear I didn't wake up until the sunday morning

[Hesmo]

This condition is recognised for the purposes of claiming PIP, If you are having problems change your doctor, I suffer from Fibromyalgia and in constant pain, dizziness, insomnia and when i do sleep I wake up feeling like a bag of poo, I get standard Mobility and standard daily living allowance PIP. Dont give up!!

[Heltadelta]

Hi. I am on DLA and I put down Fibromyalgia as one of my health conditions, no-one said they wouldn't count it towards my payments.

Heltadelta