Important advice for anybody on any sort of #disability support when you are being evaluated for your capabilities and limitations:
DO NOT pace yourself for that meeting.
DO NOT top up your meds so you can function.
Instead do everything you can to max out your fatigue and your pain in the days prior.
These people have no understanding of PEM or the hacks we use to survive. SHOW them what you deal with daily.
It's counter intuitive, but success is you failing to perform.
Always... and I do mean... ALWAYS, give your answers based on your WORST day.
The questions are designed to trip you up and make assumptions about your abilities.
Examples such as
'Do you have stairs in your home?' If you answer yes, they will mark it down as you can use stairs just fine. So you answer, I struggle to use the stairs in my home.
Another is 'Can you prepare a meal?' If you say yes, they mark it down as you can prepare every meal you ever make. So you answer 'I cannot prepare 3 meals a day, every day from scratch'
They'll ask how far you can walk... and assume that if you can walk 50 meters, you can walk just fine everywhere. So you answer 'I cannot walk without pain'
Obviously... you answer those questions if they affect you.
But it's just examples of how they try to trick you and deceive you, so they can deny your claim.
Finally... if you already have disability benefits and are facing an assessment to renew/continue them... and your health hasn't got significantly worse that may put you into a higher group... Answer each and every question with the same answer. "No change since previous assessment" That's it... don't elaborate, don;t offer new information... don't do anything that they can pounce on to demand new proof for. If they agreed your needs qualified, but they're trying to change the criteria at a later date... Do not give them anything they can use to take them away. 'No change since previous assessment'
I cannot state that last statement strongly enough. It's the single most important thing you can do on any renewal assessment for disability benefits.
