Does anyone else with FM recieve DLA/PIP/ESA??

@SuperSammy The things they come up with for refusing you are ridiculous. You should appeal or apply again. Get a family member to fill out the forms for you and at your assessment take someone with you and also let them do some of the talking too.

I hope I am successful too! It is so stressful having to go through it all because I have an illness through no fault of my own. The process is very degrading but you have to persevere. They make it so hard so that people will give up on their claim. The lady who did my assessment was nice but I am no fool and I know that means nothing. I will be requesting a copy of the report she made at my assessment too(which you should also do) because otherwise we have no idea what they actually wrote down whilst we were sat there (usually the opposite to what we say). At least then I will have some evidence to appeal against should my claim be refused.

And I agree with what others have said which is if you decide to go and drink a bottle of vodka every night of the week this system has no problem giving you money to support your addiction (which is all it actually does) and yet if you have a genuine illness they try to make you feel like a fraud for trying to get some help so that you can actually manage to live and support yourself!

I am going to make a new claim and I know what I should do now,I have got a carers service to fill in the forms for me and you are right about junkies and alkys that's self inflicted and they get everything they claim for I hope they get treated the same way I did but I don't think they will.

I am glad you are going to apply again. There's lots of advice online too. And when you go for your assessment if they ask you to bend over or touch your toes etc and you can do it but i causes you pain say no. Because if you do it but you communicate to them that you are in extreme pain whilst attempting it all they will put down is you are capable of doing it. It is possible to be successful with your claim but your have to know what you are walking into with Capita or ATOS they are so sly!! Makes me mad!

Yes you are right I will go there and not say much and I will have someone to take me there,Its also a good idea to write down on some paper about the history of your condition so it proves your memory isn't that good,and I will look depressed when I go in to see them (which wont be hard as I am depressed anyway)I am off to bed now.........Goodnight princessmh89

As I said I do understand and share your frustration, however I also understand the 'plight' of addicts/alcoholics. Alcoholism is a disease and a terrible one at that; if it were as easy as not picking up a drink, there would not be any alcoholics. Alcoholism is a very complex illness and one where it's suffers are treated terribly; many of them are in prison and criminalised for it. I am very much with Russell Brand on this topic.

Try not to look for other sick people to 'blame' for us not getting what we should; the problem lies firmly with those who rule over us. They simply do not have any compassion and care only about money. Did you read what Tory Grand Shapps is saying about us today? Its all over the media and twitter:

Who said Tories dont have sense of humour? @grantshapps: #budget2014 cuts bingo & beer tax helping hardworking people pic.twitter.com/8l2J5gEzj6

** Keep fighting and stay strong; don't let the buggers get you down!

This is the most intelligent post I have read on any forum for a very long time.

@lucy91612

I am not blaming alcoholics or addicts for the position I am in I am blaming this system. I personally know of many alcoholics who sit around with no intentions of ever working or adding to society in any way just waiting for their next sick note/payment so they can go an stock up on alcohol and make a nuisance of themselves. Having said that, my Grandad was an alcoholic but he worked everyday of his life till he was 65 years old never asking for a penny off this government and yet after he retired and became ill (not related to alcoholism) he struggled to get any help at all. The system unfortunately is not fair.

I'm claiming ESA with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

I was denied PIP the first time but this 2nd time round I've had my medical assessment (which was 2 weeks ago). This has taken nearly 8mths and still no clear answer.

How can we say we are a civilised country when it takes nearly 8 months and still no answer to receiving a living benefit. Do you know how much ESA is until they approve your claim?

I get £226 a fortnight

melanieb "I get £226 a fortnight"

Thanks Melanie. I will apply for ESA when I finish work in summer; hopefully I can make it till then.

I understood that until a claim was processed and accepted within a 13 week timeframe, the benefit was much lower. If a claim is accepted, then the claim is backdated I understand the money is increased. Have I got it right?

xx

ESA does get back paid but as far as I know you need to send in sick notes from your doctor unit you have a work capability assessment then take it from there. Wish you luck

melanieb,

8 months is ridiculous! I don't know about you but waiting and wondering about these things is making me a nervous wreck! I will post when I get a reply to let everyone know what the outcome was. I am so not looking forward to having to appeal if they deny my claim for PIP.

JeannieMC,

You have to apply for ESA and then get sick notes from your GP for the first 13 weeks. Then you will usually be called for a medical assessment after filling out the medical questionnaire and then depending on whether you get put in the support group or work related activity group and also based on your national insurance contributions will determine how much money you will receive.

Just an update: I went for my PIP assessment on March 14th and since then have recieved 3 letters all repeating the exact same thing...

"we have now recieved all the information we need to make a decision about your claim...a decision maker will be in touch shortly..."

My Mum rang up and asked why they kept sending me letters that all said the same thing and they apologised and said I will definitely hear from them within the next 2 weeks about my claim. I have heard they may stop back paying PIP though...does anyone know if this is true???