DLA APPEAL REFUSED ME/CFS HELP !!

Need to complete GL24 - my consultant has already confirmed i'm unable to cook a main meal 5 days per week as fluctuating condition. I cannot leave the house due to debilitating fatigue but still refused. What evidence do they need !!!!! need to return the GL24 before 5 March. Any help very much appreciated.

Sorry to hear Hannah that tribunal turned you down. If your condition is the same or worse then I would put in for the DLA again, I myself had DLA they took it off me, I too lost in tribunal but tried again as I have mobility issues and recently was awarded HR mobility and LR care, its hard not to feel despondant but I would suggest you try again, this site and resources are great and also seek face to face like CAB etc

Hi Hannah

I too have M.E and have been turned down for DLA twice

The second time I went to a tribunal and was still unsuccessful

If I were you, I would appeal and be ready for some of the questions they may ask. It states that in the DLA form that you should fill it in with what help you need and not what you get, but my experience of the tribunal they don't look at that. Because you are "coping" in their eyes" you don't need additional help. Because I stated that I have a toilet upstairs and that I have mobility problems they basically said that because you can get to the toilet you don't have mobility problems. It didn't matter that I on occasions I crawl on my hands and knees to get there and then have to lie down on the bed and no mobility problems seems to mean no problems caring for yourself

I also think they expect you to be under all sorts of consultants, therapists and psychologists and they want reports from them as well as your GP.

Since then i also diagnose with having fibromyalgia and I am intending to apply again, this time using the guides on this website. I am waiting to see if my ESA renewal is successful then I will send for a copy of the medical report, I am also considering getting copies of my medical reports from the hospital. I know it's not free but it may be useful to have copies. What I intend to do is bombard them with paperwork I also intend to ask my friends and family to write letters stating the problems they see me having as doctors only see you for a fraction of the time and can't get a picture of what's really going on.

I know you don't have long to return your appeal but if i were you i would try to send as much paperwork as you can. If you get additional evidence after you have returned the form send that too.

I don't really know that much about these benefits, so I am just letting you know what I would do, unfortunately they seem to thing that m.e. just makes you tired and that's it. They don't realise that it is really disabilitatating and has a long list of other symptoms to go along with it.

Good luck with your appeal

Perhaps you might find this of help: Action for M.E. DLA Factsheet

which has a section on appeals. Also might be an idea to visit the Foggy Friends website, an active (concerning ME, the word 'active' is an oxymoron) place for ME sufferers, their families & carers where there are a lot of people going through this process. I've found it of great help and support:

Foggy Friends Where ME/CFS Sufferers Unite