Welfare benefits
If you have M.E. or care for someone who has M.E., you may be entitled to claim welfare benefits. Action for M.E. produces a range of factsheets about the benefits available, including information on applying and, if necessary, appealing. You can find links to these below.
- ESA: an overview (updated July 2020)
- PIP: an overview (updated July 2020)
- Universal Credit: an overview (updated July 2020)
- Supporting evidence for PIP and ESA claims
- DLA: a guide to filling in the form
- DLA: revisions and appeal
- DLA face-to-face medicals for adults and children
- DLA for children under 16
- Permitted Work
- Our factsheet on applying for a Blue Badge is under review. You can find guidance on the Citizens Advice Bureau website.
PLEASE NOTE The DWP suspended face-to-face assessments, in late March 2020, for three months. In July, it announced that some review and reassessment activity would begin to resume for PIP and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Please check for updates at www.gov.uk/welfare
If you need help applying for Employment and Support Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, you can use SEAP’s benefit support app. This helps you prepare by testing any application form answers you have drafted to estimate how many points you might score.
Other sources of support
You can also contact the following for further welfare benefits information:
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- DIAL
- Law Centres
- Your local council, which may offer welfare rights advice or be able to signpost you to local services.
