Hi,
As the Founder/Manager of M.E. Foggy Dog, I ensure that the voices of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) are heard and that their experiences shape the conversations I have about disability rights, access to adequate and appropriate care, and government policies. That’s why I’m asking for a little bit of help from you!
This week, proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments have been causing a lot of concern within the disabled and chronically sick communities, including people living with M.E. I know these changes are complex (and at the moment, very vague), and the effects will vary from person to person depending on many factors. Still, I’m hoping to gather some informal data to get a rough idea of the percentage of people who will be negatively affected if the changes go on to be implemented at some point in the future. I get that this is a tricky thing to measure and that the data won’t be perfect. If you’ve been through a PIP assessment in the past and scored 4 points in any category, I would appreciate hearing from you. If you can, please email me with the following info:
- Which category contained the 4 points in your assessment?
- What was your overall score on the assessment?
- What level of severity were you experiencing at the time of the assessment?
This isn’t about getting precise, polished data; it’s about creating a snapshot. With this info, I can better understand how many people are likely to face negative consequences due to these changes in PIP, and it will help us, as a community, fight back against the government’s cuts to disability benefits.
If you’re able to share your experience, please email me at sally@mefoggydog.org Your input could make a real difference in my ongoing work pushing for welfare reform that is in keeping with the needs of people living with M.E.
Thanks in advance for your energy, time, and support.
Sally