Collection of documents to help people with Benefits
Benefits Helpline Closed - Friday 16/03/18
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- Category: Benefits
- Published on Friday, 16 March 2018 10:20
- Hits: 234
Please note that the Benefits Helpline is closed Friday 16/03/18
Motability – The Big Event Manchester 6th May 2017.
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- Category: Benefits
- Published on Monday, 29 May 2017 23:14
- Hits: 1325
Benefits Helpline Off
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- Category: Benefits
- Published on Wednesday, 22 February 2017 10:35
- Hits: 1253
Please note that there will be no benefits helpine on Friday 24th February 2017 )
Motability Scheme - enhancements to PIP transitional support package
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- Category: Benefits
- Published on Friday, 21 April 2017 21:30
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Please find below an announcement from Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, relevant to the Motability Scheme and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which may be of interest to you.
You will also find a comment from Lord Sterling, Chairman and Co-founder of Motability explaining this further.
The information relates to enhancements to the PIP transitional support package available to people who are unsuccessful in their reassessment from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
Further details are also available, including a Q&A, on the Motability Scheme website here
PIP to DLA - Previous Medical Evidence
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- Category: Benefits
- Published on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 10:44
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‘Invitation’ to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in place of your indefinite DLA award.
In the coming months if you are at present in receipt of an indefinite DLA award and were under 65 on 8th April 2013 you will get a letter ‘inviting’ you to make a claim for PIP. If you wish to continue to get some benefit you have no choice but to put in a claim.
The instruction will be to phone the PIP claim line. In bold below is the script of what the person from the DWP will say to you:
“Personal Independence Payment’ (PIP) is a new benefit. Once you complete a claim over the phone (In writing if paper claim requested) you will receive a ‘How your disability affects you’ PIP2 form to complete. When you return the PIP2 you can include any medical or supporting evidence you think may help us. You will then be referred to an Assessment Provider who may gather further medical evidence
Is there any other specific medical evidence from your DLA claim that you think might help?”
The important part is the question at the end and it is likely you would like the previous medical evidence to be taken into account and if you say ‘Yes’ you will be asked:
“Do you know what that evidence was when it was obtained?”
The chances are you don’t know what evidence was given to them at the time so the safe answer is ‘I don’t know’
You should then be told:
“We can send you a copy of the medical evidence we have on your DLA file. Due to requirements under the Data Protection Act and our document retention procedures, previous evidence may not be available. If evidence is still on your file we will ensure that it is taken into account. On the covering letter we send you with the copy of your DLA medical evidence you will be given a date by which you must let us know if you want to use any of the information for your Personal Independence claim.”
This way you get to decide what evidence you want them to use not the DWP. If the person you are speaking to does not offer to send the information to you ask for it yourself.
If you want more information on this or what their ‘script’ says in full if you say ‘yes’ please contact
Janet Horton, Benefits Adviser on the FMA UK Benefits Helpline which is available Mon and Fri 10 - 12. Tel: 0300 999 0055 (please note the Benefits Helpline is closed until 6/1/17)
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- National Helpline 0300 999 3333 (10am - 4pm Mon - Fri)
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- Complimentary information booklets for doctors and other professionals (fully referenced)
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Trustee meetings are held monthly via Skype and last about 2 hours. There is an annual meeting that coincides with our group leaders’ meeting over a weekend.
If your Medical Professional needs some education in fibromyalgia you can request that an FMA UK Medical Professionals Pack is sent out to them. All we need is the name of the Medical Professional and the address of their practice. We will then send a pack to their surgery addressed from us to them.
You can request a medical pack using this form.
We are delighted to announce that our recent assessment for The Information Standard has been successful and we continue to fulfil the criteria for using the TIS logo on our publications.
The rigorous process that has to be in place ensures that up to date evidence is used and presented to people in an appropriate way. The process is ongoing and requires much diligence by everyone involved.
We would like to thank everyone who has worked on our publications or sent in their comments and suggestions for improvement
FMA UK is now able to receive text donations from your mobile. With our partners you are now able to send a text from your mobile to 70070 with the code of FMUK01 and your amount that you would like to donate to us. For example if you would like to donate £5 to FMA UK* you would text FMUK01 £5 to 70070. You would then be given the opportunity to add Gift Aid - meaning FMA UK benefits from an extra 25% on top of your original donation.
You can find a Support Group near you by contacting the Regional Coordinator for your area. If there does not happen to be a support group near you then maybe you can join with some other members and set one up. Support groups provide a social benefit as well as the opportunity to share tips on coping with fibro. They come in all shapes and sizes and we are often told how they have helped people.
