Benefits and Work

Some people with ME or CFS may not be well enough to work at all at some stage in the illness and therefore may need state benefits (see below) and other financial support.

Other people with ME or CFS may be well enough to do a few voluntary hours, or work part-time, but this can sometimes be very challenging to manage and therefore advice and tips may be helpful (see below.) Often benefits or working tax credits are needed.

Benefits advice

ME Support Norfolk

'ME Support Norfolk' has a lot of success helping people with benefits claims.  Advisors often will attend Elevate meeting in Dereham but you can try contacting them directly. www.mesupportnorfolk.co.uk

You may also get good tips from people at Elevate and encouragement that they have been successful in their claims.

Fightback For Justice

http://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/

This charity services include:

• Welfare benefit advice and appeals.
• A helpline.
• Face to face help from a Bury office or home visits if near enough.
• Disability benefit applications completed by a fully qualified lawyers.
• A buddy system for medicals.
• A facebook group facebook.com/FightBack4Justice

25% Group

If you are severely affected the 25% may well provide advocacy/welfare advice & assistance as well as being generally helpful. www.25megroup.org

Facebook Group

Some people have found the Facebook group "M.E. & Chronic Illness Benefits Advice Group" helpful.  The following should work if you are already signed in to Facebook or search for the group name using the Facebook search facility.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/278260135547189/?fref=ts

Benefits and Work

"Benefits and Work" produces downloadable PDF guides to filling in forms,  a newsletter but it is a lot of reading which some people may struggle to manage. They also provide other services but they do not have the expert knowlege of ME that ME support Norfolk and the 25% group have.

 

Other Financial Support

Grants for individuals:

The following organisations may provide grants to help fund disability aids such as mobility scooters, home adaptions, etc if these aren't covered by PIP or a 'personal health budget', savings, or other income. A support letter from an OT or a supporting charity may help or be expected with some of these charities when making an application.

Independence at Home http://www.independenceathome.org.uk/

Act Foundation http://www.theactfoundation.co.uk/

Newby Trust http://www.newby-trust.org.uk/

Talisman http://www.talismancharity.org/

 

Turn to Us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.