Page 4 - Benefits                                               page    1     2     3     4     5

If you find that you need to apply for benefits or housing assistance, whatever you do, make sure that you have someone to help you who knows about ME and the application system.

Here is a simple example why. A question on one of the many forms used to say "Can you walk 100 metres without severe discomfort or pain?" For me the answer is a simple yes. But the form hadn't been written with ME in mind. What the question wanted to know is whether you were able to take a job which would require you to walk 100m several times each day as part of the normal activities, and to do that regularly and reliably every day that you work without it causing you difficulties, or it meaning that you have to rest for a couple of days afterwards. I couldn't do that: I would need a lot of rest. Questions are not geared to the fatigue and variability of ME.

Fortunately the associations are very helpful: you will get lots of advice on the forums if you ask, and Citizens Advice are very good. There are many other voluntary organisations that can help - this is where knowing others with ME will help.

I'm afraid there is an element of luck with these things, and the whole thing revolves around "ticking the right boxes". So get help the first time around to make sure that your applications are filled in the right way. There needs to be someone with you who can take in all your information and tell them what is relevent in the format they require. If you are like me, your mind gets confused after a while, so forget about your pride and independence, get it right the first time and hopefully avoid the unpleasant prospect of an appeal.