Hi Fred

Thanks for your advice with an "oops" I just realised that this is for the IB50 which I completed and it was successfully renewed in March the one I am fretting about now is my dla forms which are due in next month, can't help thinking now that maybe my IB50 was ok because I also have lung diseases and maybe it was awarded on that ? which is so wrong as the me/cfs in itself is devastating

anne

I don't agree. CFS/ME has been recognised by the government's Chief Medical Officer as a disease with both physical and mental elements. It is classed by the World Health Organisation as a neurological disease in it's International Classification of Diseases.

The DWP also accept it has a physical illness for DLA purposes. From the DWP website :

Is CFS/ME a physical illness?

There has previously been much debate as to whether CFS/ME is a physical illness or not. Some researchers have put forward the argument that it is a purely psychological disorder, citing in evidence the high rate of co-morbid depression. Others are equally sure that it is purely physical, citing the abnormal hormonal tests found in some or the triggering of the illness by certain infections. Both views are oversimplifications. The reality is that the disability of CFS/ME involves both physical and mental incapacity and it is important to ensure full consideration is given to all the disabling effects of the illness and an accurate assessment of care and mobility needs is made.”

For the purpose of DLA, however, the current law means that a claimant cannot be eligible for a higher rate of mobility unless his/her disability is considered "physical". For this purpose, CFS/ME is "physical".

In the ten years I sat as a DLA tribunal member, there were more with ME/CFS who won their appeal than those who didn't.

ME/CFS is not just depression and fatigue, and if someone has been diagnosed with CFS/ME they should clearly state that they have and not hide it. Doing so will do nothing for their particular case, nor for the many thousands of others with the same diagnosis.

I've had MS for over 20 years, and in those days many with MS had the same difficulties getting DLA then as many with CFS/ME do now.

Jim

Silverlady posted this under heading

Re:Interesting ME Association articles

It is a problem when ME patients feel 'forced' to undertake 'psychological retraining of thoughts' in return for benefits. I had an appeal for DLA last year which was in the main part very sympathetic. However the 'doctor' on the board questioned me on why i had not had any treatments. I realise now the implication was that I was not co-operating with NICE guidelines (which i was unaware of at the time anyway!). Of course now, reluctantly, I am going down that road. i have already had an 'assessment' where I was asked lots of personal and relationship questions. She was interested in such questions, whereas the laborious, painful and distressing physical symptoms were of little interest to her. Maybe she was just nosy.....

See member’s current experience of claiming benefits when they mention ME/CFS under posting:

ME/CFS benefits discrimination

From the postings that I have read it indicates that some members were denied benefits when they mentioned ME/CFS. However, this might be a different case under appeal.

The statement that the DWP makes regarding ME/CFS as physical is misleading, as the usual treatments for this condition is CBT. It is well know that Professor Simon Wessely advises the DWP on this condition, which he believes is physiological in origin, and has actively promoted this for a number of years. All the DVDs that I have obtained that are sent to doctors actively promote the biosocial origin of illness, the physical effects of illness are all to do with physiological problems according to the DWP.

From the postings that I have seen on these boards I am under the impression that ME/CFS is currently not taken to be a physical condition by the DWP unless backed up by medical tests.

I think it begs the question: can the DWP be trusted on the information that they put in the public domain?

This is the updated information on CFS/ME which replaced what was formerly in the Disability Handbook. It's on the Corporate Medical Group website and I'd recommend anyone with CFS/ME making a claim for DLA to read through it.HERE

You don't have to have a formal diagnosis or a specific mental health condition for them to apply the mental health test. It should be applied if the dr thinks its appropriate. This could be if you have a condition or drug side ffects that affect your alertness or cognition. If you have a drug or alcohol dependancy, or if you have mild or moderate learning disabilities.

Anne wrote:

QUOTE:
Hi Fred

Thanks for your advice :) with an "oops" I just realised that this is for the IB50 which I completed and it was successfully renewed in March the one I am fretting about now is my dla forms which are due in next month, can't help thinking now that maybe my IB50 was ok because I also have lung diseases and maybe it was awarded on that ? which is so wrong as the me/cfs in itself is devastating

anne

Hi Anne,

Looking back at my previous reply, I see I never mentioned that it's now common practice for the DWP's Decision Makers to use information in respect of an IB claim to help assess eligibility to DLA.

Sorry I can't find the link to the part of the Decision Makers Guide I read it on.

Good luck with your DLA renewal.

Jim