Edinburgh M.E. Self help Group

The Disablement Income Group Scotland (DIG), based at the Shore in Edinburgh, has had to close down due to lack of funding following changes in grant allocations.  DIG has operated as a charity offering advice on welfare benefits and all sorts of other financial matters for disabled people for many years.

Unfortunately they have been unable to secure funding in order to continue their future services so have had to wind up.  It was hoped they would keep their office open until mid-December but due to staff leaving to secure other jobs the office closed completely on 31 October.

DIG have guided many edmesh members through applications for Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, and their support, understanding and expertise will be a huge and sad loss.  DIG would be the first people to whom edmesh would have recommended people go who were seeking help and advice for benefit applications and filling out forms.  Although DIG had never resourced help with appeals, their expertise often avoided the need for appeals since the applications they presented were so thorough and comprehensive.

Benefits advice can still be obtained from Citizens Advice Bureaux, the City of Edinburgh Council Welfare Benefits Advice Office (The Advice Shop), Grapevine, The Rights Office at Southside Community Centre and other local authority welfare benefits services such as Midlothian and East Lothian Advice and Resource Centres.  For the severely affected, the 25% Group offer their own advocacy helpline.  Details for all these services are on our website on the page Benefits - Local Help & Advice or can be found in the phone book or Yellow Pages.  The main ones are also detailed on the back cover of our newsletter.

Whatever organisation you turn to for advice on benefits, always ask if the staff have experience in dealing with M.E. specifically, and shop around until you find it.  The biggest lesson edmesh has learned is that the better the advice and support you get up front with filling in the form, the more likely the application is to be successful, without the need for medical examinations and appeals, which are hugely stressful and totally exhausting.  More information on applying for benefits can be found in our article Welfare Benefits Help - an introduction.