ESA Appeal Success - Harrumble!

Finally got my appeal heard today after waiting over a year. Was originally awarded 12 points at the assessment last July, raised to 15 points today which was all I needed to succeed. So people with ME/CFS can win.

Thanks to benefitsandwork for the information which helped and my local CAB who put a submission together. Next stop: DLA (and a Blue Badge and a wheelchair from my GP so I can go out occasionally!)

Well Done, and thank for letting us know, It gives people hope everytime we hear stories like yours. Best Wishes

Seems that a lot of the reports of ESA being denied are cases of ME/CFS. Perhaps a class action for breaches of the DDA could be started against the DWP??

Hi im just putting in a appeal for esa and i have cfs/me and fibromyalgia, i also suffer with ibs chronically. Any tips for my tribunal? i was awarded 12 points both for being unable to walk any great distance, i have other physical disabitlities but they has been disrigarded for some reason.

michelle

I have my appeal in two weeks. I read somewhere I shold have a rep, but I haven't done that. Is it ok to go myself? I feel a fraud, because I am ok as long as I don't do much, but as soon as I try to do things that require normal physical level of activity I get tired,sore muscles and everything else, so I keep my activity level low. I keep trying to do more to prove to myself I can't. But I know I couldn't work. Anyone else feel like this?

Anne, yes, I feel just like that. I have had FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) for 12 years, I have IBS with it, get serious headaches at least once a week, ache from head to toe most of the time, but scored 0 points on the WCA and recently had my appeal disallowed. Life is hard, isn't it?