exempt query

can anyone advise. I hav just sent of form IB50 with much help from this site and a welfare officer. Just read the exemption categories on this site and feel I may be exempt. I have Rhematoid Arthritis which affects both hands/fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and have cerival spondolysis affecting neck/back. The exemption for polyarthritis could apply to me I think as I have inflammation in more than 4 joints (description of polyarthritis found on web) - although I have never heard of polyarthritis and have not been diagnosed with it by RA consultant at hospital.

Thank you

Hi Christine,

It sounds like the first thing you'd need to do is talk to your GP about your diagnosis, as there would need to be medical evidence.

Good luck,

Steve

christine wrote:

can anyone advise. I hav just sent of form IB50 with much help from this site and a welfare officer. Just read the exemption categories on this site and feel I may be exempt. I have Rhematoid Arthritis which affects both hands/fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and have cerival spondolysis affecting neck/back. The exemption for polyarthritis could apply to me I think as I have inflammation in more than 4 joints (description of polyarthritis found on web) - although I have never heard of polyarthritis and have not been diagnosed with it by RA consultant at hospital.

Thank you

Hi Christine,

`Polyarthritis` is any type of arthritis which involves five or more joints — an inflammation of two, three or four joints is called oligoarthritis. Polyarthritis is most often caused by an auto-immune disorder such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

To be exempt from the PCA for this type of disease, it has to be active and progressive and there has to be medical evidence to this effect. As Steve as advised see your GP, and if possible ask your Rheumatologist's secretary if they could confirm that your RA is polyarthritis.

Hope this explains about polyarthritis.

Best wishes.

Pat.