I have ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, chronic depression, nerve entrapments, and arthritic wear in my neck. These conditions leave me exhausted and debilitated for much of the time. Even doing simple tasks can disproportionally tire me out and fatigue my body to quite an extreme extent. Not only is my mobility substantially restricted at all times, there are many days when I am not even able to leave my bed due to fatigue, and lack of energy and strength. I am unable to work, due to my conditions.

For 7 years I received Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and under both I also qualifying for the enhanced mobility component. This meant that I could use this part of my benefit to lease a mobility car from the Motability scheme.

However, I was reassessed in January and the assessor deemed that I need a lower level of support. Immediately my income was cut by £50 per week. I appealed unsuccessfully through the Mandatory Reconsideration process, and now have also applied for an appeal at the appeals tribunal court. The wait for this appeal is going to be as long as after Christmas 2018. In the mean time, Motability are taking my car off me as they are no longer getting payments from the benefit agency.

The loss of income is becoming a struggle, but the loss of my mobility car is absolutely devastating. A car gives someone like me freedom, it is autonomous mobility. I have no idea how I’m going to cope. Getting to a from bus stops is very hard. Buses end up causing me such pain and harm, that I cannot do anything once I’ve been on a journey. Taxis might be ok for one or two trips per week, but the cost soon becomes intolerable, and they restrict getting out of the house to just 2 or 3 times a week.

I am appealing with the support of Disability Solutions West Midlands. They have an excellent record of overturning 90% of decisions on appeal, and on evidence say my case is good. Therefore, once I finally get my appeal heard it is very likely I will have everything reinstated. However, the waiting times for tribunal dares have grown signifycantly due to tye amount if people now appealing this systemically broken assessment

In the mean time, however, I need help to replace the loss of income and help in running and maintaining a car. Without the car, I'll be effectively house bound and unable to do everyday things, such as shopping, visiting the doctor and hospital, visiting friends, going for coffee or enjoying the outdoors. All of these things are vital to my on going therapy.

I’ve been trying to self support by selling possetions, but i am running out of things I can sell

Thank you for your support and consideration.