COVID, Homeworking, and Ableism
What does homeworking mean to those of us with chronic illness or a disability? Before COVID, we couldn’t get a job. Now, we can.
Writing
The Hampshire MS survey results
In my last blog post, I introduced you to the MS Hampshire Collaborative Working Group and our survey. We wanted to know what level of care people with MS are getting from their local MS healthcare team. Does it depend on where you live? and what happens if you don’t have good access, or any …
What is the Hampshire MS Services survey?
Some of you may have wondered where on earth I’ve been for the past year and a half! Well, apart from getting a new diagnosis and learning ways to manage the condition (a future blog post), I’ve been heavily involved in a group called the MS Hampshire Collaborative Working Group and a survey of MS …
Introduction to the PIP Online Bootcamp that tackles your PIP Application
I have chatted to so many people about the mountain that is the PIP Application Form, otherwise known as the PIP2 form. I totally concur with this metaphor – it would be a mission to get through it if you were well, let alone if you have a disability or chronic health condition! So far, …
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Are you sure your future state pension is protected?
If your disability or chronic illness means that you can’t work, you need to make sure you get enough national insurance (NI) credits. If you don’t, you might not qualify for a full state pension. How do you get them? Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or ‘new-style’ ESA. To get the full basic State Pension you …
Are you sure your future state pension is protected? Read More »
MS Sessions 2017 Day 1 – a Young Person’s Conference
Wowee. There was such a buzz of energy, support, understanding and positivity at the first ever conference for young people with Multiple Sclerosis! I am on a natural high, completely overwhelmed by our community. MS Sessions 2017, thank you! There’s so much content I need to share with you dear reader, but to kick things …
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Benefits and Disability: Have we got this all wrong?
Today, I am troubled. I’m troubled by conversations I’ve had over the past year or two. They keep replaying in my head. They go something like this: “….so that’s why I am campaigning against the incredibly strict mobility criteria created for the Personal Independence Payment. If we are able to walk more than 20m, then we loose …
Benefits and Disability: Have we got this all wrong? Read More »
Energy from Others
It’s Tuesday morning and the sun is shining. Life is so much sweeter when those rays hit the garden. I can become lost in mindfulness outside the confines of the house and escape from my fears, as well as all my To-do’s for the day. I can reframe my day with internal mantras (stolen off …
Research Update: Yet another media frenzy over a Stem Cell ‘cure’? Or is this interesting?
You might have heard about this in the news (again!): Scientists close to a cure for MS. To be honest, I heard this on the radio this morning whilst waiting for a blood test in my GP surgery but disregarded it. I zoned out, not just because waiting for a blood test is far from my favourite pastime …
Your Bite-size PIP Application Part 1: 7 Tips to read BEFORE starting
Why, Many Lemons, have you associated a post about benefits with this photograph of appetizing smoked-salmon-based morsels? Random?! Read on people, all will become clear… Applying for PIP is quite an involved process, with a 32 page application form – the ‘PIP2’ form – to fill out. You’ll also need to collate evidence that supports your …
Your Bite-size PIP Application Part 1: 7 Tips to read BEFORE starting Read More »