Chronic Fatigue and Benefits

Hi Lisa, i have CFS, initially PVF 17 months. I had to give up my job. All tests say nothing wrong but i feel pretty ill most days and struggle to leave the home, i am only 35 and used to be a triahtlete.

I can tell you you should claim personal independence payment, you can get this even if you work. There is a mobility and daily living components, rates vary but look it up. Taking some time off is probably a good idea. Make sure your GP has ran extensive testing as to what could be causing your fatigue. Make sure you have had an ANA (anti-nuclear anti body test) for lupus as i know some people get CFS when it is lupus. Hope that helps and all the best.

https://www.gov.uk/pip/what-youll-get

Hi Lisa

Have you tried going further up within the company for help  ?  I also work in accounts too.  Although my immediate boss doesnt quite understand the illness (one of these people who thinks its in my head) she and the HR team allowed me time off and then reduce my hours.  I gradually built back up again and they allow me to work flexi time which suits well.  I think you need to speak to someone who understands the illness better.  The HR manager I spoke too has dealt with a couple of others who had our illness so it was alot easily to sort a plan of action out.

Anyway best of luck

Jimmy

 

Personal independent payment will take almost a year to get processed .and then the criteria for receiving it is very high. 

In the meantime may I suggest step change government charity run financial advice organisation. They will sort out your financiers for you ...they do income and expenditure..and then suggest your best option. They are excellent and all credit cards ,banks etc trust them and will agree to reduced payments , interest stopping etc while you are on sickness benefit ...

Lisa, don't listen to Sally, sorry Sally what you say in nonsense. My PIP was processed and i was paid (backdated) within 2 months. PIP is paid to people with an illness that are in paid full time employment as well as us who cannot work. The minimum you would get would be around £100/month with the maximum being around £320 month. Seems crazy to avoid something you are whole heartedly entitled too as the illness clearly effects your life.

I totally relate to this, I had a very highly paid job with a lifestyle to go with it and did exactly what you did which is to keep going. I am now on the road to recovery and am sure that it is that huge will power inside me that has got me to where I am today BUT I did eventually have to give in and pacing is the key. I would get enough energy to do my work and that was about it.

Pacing is very hard when you work full time and eventually I saved up enough money to go freelance and get out of all the stress. I then controlled my energy levels and very slowly have been working on increasing it. I had to give it the other day but that days rest really helped.

Have you been in the company 2 years, they can't easily fire you, and is it a big company? If so they will have an occupational health dept. Once you have your diagnosis, speak to them and they will sort you out. The boss will get a huge rap over the knuckles and he can get into huge trouble, along with the company for not taking your health condition seriously.

The other thing to do is look at your financial responsibilities and see if there are any that you can get yourself out of or reduce and certainly don't take on any more. e.g. if the mobile phone contract is up for renew, keep your phone and get a cheap sim only.

Hi Lisa, I do feel for you, I did the same and crashed last Sept, had 4 months off. I'm now only able to go back p/t.

In addition to PIP and speaking to Step Change ( great for helping sort out finances when u got v little income - lots of help available ) I'm also looking into working tax credit in the disability section - I think I may b entitled having looked at the criteria.

I'm also working on pacing, find it incredibly hard to discipline myself so much tho, not easy to take it easy on days I feel ok I find. If anyone has any tips on this id be very grateful. I also attended a fibromyalgia course locally and learned that my parasympathetic nervous system is in overdrive and has been for many years , which I believe has contributed to the fatigue. So I'm now practicing proper daily relaxation - the OT said its a skill to be learned, not the same as ' chillaxing' - and looking into ways to decrease the revs on parasympathetic system and increase activity of the calming sympathetic system! Anyway that's just me! I'm happy to try new things and I'm Defo better than last Sept when I finally gave into going sick ( I strand it out for financial reasons too).

I hope you find this forum helpful,

Take care and all the best.

Hi Lisa, I was also working full time hours before I crashed with a flu like virus in February. I have been receiving SSP and working tax credit. I was told that if I was not in receipt of working tax credit then I could apply for income support to top up my SSP. So that could be a option for you now. My son's PIP took a year to come through too. For myself I am pondering on that one because like you there are times when I have just worked through my CFS, so am not sure that I would be bad enough for PIP.