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FIBROMYALGIA SUFFERERS CLAIMING STATE BENEFITS

These pages look at UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand state benefit systems, plus a link to know other countries services. We are happy to expand this to look at how other countries offer benefits (if any) or sufferers cope with financial hardship brought about by having Fibromyalgia.

The need to claim benefits arises as the  Fibromyalgia symptoms advance meaning that the ability to work is reduced to a stage of having to work part time, or give up totally. It is not always possible or convenient to work from home or do other work so the sufferer is faced with the critical issue of having to claim financial support.

Since Fibromyalgia is a long term (potentially permanent) disease sufferers who have savings or assets at the onset of the disease may find their ability to claim benefits reduced or refused based on "savings" and only later when financial hardship strikes can they become eligible.

Fibromyalgia can strike young and old so the need to claim benefits may vary based on the age of the applicant. Older people may find the process overly complex and hard to understand, whereas young professional people can "race through" the process more easily with a high degree of success.

Some people claim that Fibromyalgia can start in childhood or at least some symptoms or indication exist which may lead to great disability later in life hence the progressive nature of the disease.

Often sufferers are deterred from claiming benefits due to several reasons;

• they do not see themselves as ill or "bad enough" to claim
• lack of awareness of what benefits and other financial help is available
• complexity of forms to complete
• embarrassment - with having to undergo physical examinations and what they perceive as "interrogations" into their personal life and finances
• lack of knowledge of where to go and how to claim
• fear of rejection, of loosing personal dignity and other benefits which they might currently be getting.

Step by step advice

• maintain a symptom diary as a valuable form of information about how Fibromyalgia affects you as a particular individual with milestone summaries each month.
• often Fibromyalgia is progressive, so even if you feel you are not currently too bad, perhaps still able to work, think ahead. Many leave claiming until they are unable to work and in serious financial hardship. The claim process can take potentially months, and whilst payment can often be back dated (at best 6 months) you may experience financial hardship until a favourable decision is made.
• find out WHAT you can claim - normally Incapacity Benefit or DLA (Disability Living Allowance). Grants may be available for special equipment, modifying your home, or with transport.
• are you eligible? has Fibromyalgia been formerly diagnosed by your doctor and thus proving proof of your illness? You will need written proof or the doctor able to confirm your condition via forms or requests sent to them by the benefits office.
• just because you have been diagnosed as having Fibromyalgia does NOT automatically qualify you for any state benefit. You still need to prove you are seriously disabled because of it.
• have you claimed before and been refused? if so how long ago, how are you now - worse, or the same? Your current condition plus new knowledge and experience should help with a re-application. Often the system rejects first claims as a normal so persistence with a genuine claim should succeed.
• get a friend or relative who understands and has the knowledge and experience of form filing to advise and help you. Contact your local CAB (UK) Citizens Advice Bureau for advice they can help fill in forms. CAB web site
• if you are asked to undergo a medical ask for it to be done AT HOME - travelling can be arduous and may reduce your chances of getting benefit if you are "fit enough for travel".
• have someone present with you for all personal interviews or medical examinations and get them to take notes of what was done or said which may affect your claim.
• and finally remember 1 good day in 365 may deem you healthy, if you are disabled it's a 100% all the time, every day event! Fibromyalgia sufferers symptoms can be up and down, but overall you are disabled all the time because of it, not just some of the time as some decision makers may suggest when rejecting a claim.

Useful web sites (check if the site covers, or applies to your country)

UNITED KINGDOM

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk To make the best possible claims and appeals get the UK's top guides & DWP's top secrets.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk UK Incapacity Benefit can be paid to people who cannot work because they are sick or disabled and are too young to get a UK State Pension – under 60 for women and under 65 for men.

http://www.direct.gov.uk UK Disability Living Allowance - sometimes referred to simply as DLA - is a tax-free benefit for UK people who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits  The Disability and Carers Service (DCS) is an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

http://www.immunesupport.com Unfortunately, applying for and obtaining disability benefits can be similar to playing a game. The skill with which you play the game often determines whether your claim is approved or denied.

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com  Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works can make the difference between winning or not winning the continuing disability benefits and back pay to which a person is entitled.

USA

State Benefits are available from www.ssa.gov

The USA Social Security system outlines its disability criteria for entitlement here in particular it states " No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability. " Disability under Social Security is based on your inability to work. They consider you disabled under Social Security rules if you cannot do work that you did before and decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition. Your disability must also last or be expected to last for at least one year.

CANADA

• Social Development Canada
• Développement Social Canada
• Régie des rentes du Québec
• Quebec Pension Board

AUSTRALIA

• Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services

• Centrelink 

NEW ZEALAND

• Ministry of Social Development
• Work and Income New Zealand

OTHER COUNTRIES

Social Security Benefits and Information Internationally

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