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danielb

Benefits for MS

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danielb

Hi everyone,

 

(no pun intended in the title)

 

Remember me at all? I am currently writing a book (onto chapter 20) wherein one of the main characters happens to be a youngish mum who suffers from MS. I have looked around for support groups, charities and organisations so that I could get involved and meet people to have a chat and get a real feel of how things really affect those affected, but haven't had any luck. Does anyone know how I could get involved with such a group? I am in Leicester (city centre), strong and willing, without a car.

 

Anyway, until I can get that sorted out, I have a question for you. I hope you can help. My character, Karen, has of course MS. I have written it as a RRMS that no longer relapses or remits so much (perhaps time to alter diagnosis). As such, she has some daily difficulties with her leg, which is generally a bit naughty and unreliable. Following her WCA assessment, I have her put into the WRAG group (incorrectly) based on a belief that one day, it will all go away...

 

I can't speak from experience, and I absolutely would like to get this right, so could anyone who knows please help me.

 

What I'd like to know is: what sort of benefit would she get, realistically?

 

Based on what I could find out, here is what I think is correct (PLEASE tell me if this is outdated/wrong)

 

disability living allowance - 3month qualifying period- on no pay, then:

 

Assessed by two criteria:

 

per week:

Mobility low:

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Sleepy
Scully

Hello Dan,

 

Glad the book is going well. You seem to be getting on well with it.

 

With regard to getting to speak to a group or local people you could try the local branch of the MS Society perhaps? and see if members would be willing to meet you?

 

Try this link, to find your local group. http://www.mssociety.org.uk/near-me

 

Benefits! It's a jungle to be honest.

 

DLA is not means tested at all. But getting it is pretty hard, with biblical proportion forms to complete, and, maybe a medical, letters from doctors and Neuro's etc.

 

Remember, having a diagnosis of MS does NOT necessarily mean she will get DLA. It depends on her day to day difficulties? It's how a condition affects people, not simply a diagnosis.

 

ESA is similar, huge forms, letters from doctors and maybe a medical via the infamous ATOS !! If she gets ESA then she has to attend work work related interviews, four I think from memory? Will she be able to do that?

 

She may be moved to the Work Support group if she is deemed unfit for work, another medical probably at this stage.

 

Either benefits, if they are given, can be reviewed, either by more biblical proportion forms or by another medical, or both, at any time.

 

Hope this helps a little

 

After all this time, I can't wait to see the finished article.

 

Scully

x


They are not brain lesions..........they are just bright ideas

 

"The truth is out there"

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danielb

Hey Christina and Scully. Thank you so much for your help. I will follow those links and try to get a grasp of the benefits system. Not to mention meet some people near me! Good question Scully. Karen will have her own issues with the system, consequences being largely related to ordinary financial restrictions common to many mums, and the (from what i've read) ludicruous and prohibitive testing procedures.

Again, I am trying to be subtle and poignant, so if anyone has any anecdotes which they are happy to share, please let me know! DISCLAIMER: a fictionalised representation of you may forever live on in literature :)

 

All the best,

 

 

Dan

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danielb

One thing I'm interested in, that i forgot to mention- since I started to write, there have been proposed changes to esa (or maybe i just became more aware?) - that can't be good? Correct me if i'm wrong, but are the coaltition government proposing 1 year maximum in the WRAG group? What then? Is it a case that people in need would be moved to an equal/similar source of benefits (just with a different acronym?)

Seems like a huge worry to impose on people

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Christina

Hi Dan

You're right, that there will be a time limit of 12 months for those on contributory ESA, in the work related activity group. It is a complicated benefit to get your head round, that's for sure.

This links explains proposed future benefit changes

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/forthcoming.htm

 

Of course, the Govt is also planning to scrap DLA for a new benefit called PIP (personalised independence payments) in a couple of years.

Thinking about your character again, is she also living in rented accommodation? She might be eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

 

Chris x


Not waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain ....

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danielb

Hi Christina, thanks again.

 

I'm just wading through the information out there (bureaucracy was never my strong point....) and I could really see how this system could exacerbate a condition such as MS (or IBS, PMS...lol).

 

Scully, I read what you wrote in Happyandy's post about ESA - that whole system is a bad joke, it seems. My partner is a 5th year med student (Dr in June) and even she admits she "knows nothing about MS" (maybe being a little humble but still). To have the recommendations and evaluations of GPs, Neuro consultants et al ignored and overruled by a private company so that less people are awarded benefits is evil, and it makes me feel sad to be human, really. I hope everyone is well today

 

Dan

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