Financial and social care advice
The Bristol M.E. Service recognises the impact that ME/CFS and Long Covid can have on people’s ability to work and therefore on their finances. We cannot advise you directly about finances and accessing benefits as this is a specialised area, but we can help you with:
- confirmation of diagnosis and that you are being helped by a specialist team.
- an outline of your functional ability and how that varies due to post exertional malaise.
These two key areas can both be included in our standard clinic letters. However, if you need to appeal a decision regarding your benefits and there is a request for further information, we can write a letter for you to add this appeal. This can include more information about the condition, the therapy approach that we offer and an outline of your functional ability.
People we support might apply for:
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) https://www.gov.uk/pip
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance
Universal Credit (UC) https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit
Carer's Allowance https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
Specialist support
We advise that you contact specialist support to establish which benefits you can apply for, and have some help in completing the application forms. Here are some of the places that can offer this:
Citizens Advice Bureau https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
North Bristol Advice Centre https://northbristoladvice.org.uk/
Bristol Law Centre https://www.bristollawcentre.org.uk/
Bristol Law Centre provides skilled assessment, triage & signposting for social welfare legal issues. They may be able to offer free legal advice & casework, depending on capacity, funding and your circumstances. If they can’t help you, they will always give you information on your options. For free legal advice if you live in Bristol and beyond. The Centre can help with housing issues, welfare benefits, discrimination and other disputes at work, mental health tribunals and Court of Protection, immigration and asylum, family disputes and tribunal appeals.
Charities: Action for M.E. and the M.E. Association
The M.E. charities also support people with Long Covid and provide up-to-date information on benefits and advice on how to complete the forms.
The M.E. Association guides to benefits: https://meassociation.org.uk/free-literature-downloads/
Action for M.E. guide to welfare benefits: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/get-information/care-and-support/welfare-benefits/
Social care and adaptive equipment
You will need to contact the social services department you live in, which is provided by the council that you pay your council tax to. There will be a number you can call or a weblink to apply for help.
Bristol City Council https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/social-care-and-health
North Somerset Council https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/adult-social-care-health
South Gloucestershire Council https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/
Gloucestershire County Council https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adults-and-older-people/
Other help can be provided by the Red Cross, who are able to offer short-term support https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-support-at-home
Mobility aids and wheelchairs
We can offer advice about the potential benefits of mobility aids. Please ask your clinician if you would like to discuss this. The NHS web pages about mobility aids are a helpful guide: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/walking-aids-wheelchairs-and-mobility-scooters/
If you want a short-term wheelchair loan, the Red Cross offer a rental or hire service.
Rent or hire a wheelchair: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-wheelchair
To access an NHS wheelchair for regular use please ask your GP for a referral.
You could also search the Internet for mobility centres as there are a number in the area, for example:
The Bristol Mobility Centre https://www.bristolsmobilitycentre.co.uk/
Ableworld Gloucester https://gloucester.ableworld.co.uk/