Professional Neurology Resources
Professor Jon Stone is a Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Professor of Neurology at the University of Edinburgh and is considered to be one of the leading medical experts in FND. His patients guide to FND is available as an Android or Apple app, or alternatively at www.neurosymptoms.org
Dr Chris Symeon is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at St George’s University Hospital in London and created the myFND app which is available through Android or Apple, and helps those with FND track, manage and understand their symptoms.
Disability Benefit: Personal Independence Payments
A diagnosis of FND can leave you worried about money and how you will cope financially in both the short and long term. If like myself your disability occurred overnight, the sudden inability to work and provide for yourself and your family will only add to the stress of a diagnosis.
For those suffering from chronic medical conditions, you can apply for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), a Government benefit that is not means tested but instead assessed against how your conditions affect two criteria – 1. Your daily living and 2. Your mobility. Applicants must complete an application form, provide evidence supporting their claim and be prepared to attend an assessment. The process is stringent and whilst the majority of cases are refused even following mandatory reconsideration, there is an 80% success rate at tribunal.
Further details on how to apply can be found at www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim and further guidance on completing your forms and making an appeal can be found on the Citizens Advice, Turn2Us and .gov websites.
Check your eligibility for Government Benefits
If your disability or trauma is the result of an accident and you are progressing with a claim for compensation, it is important to understand that the litigation process for serious and debilitating conditions does take years rather than months.
Claims are intrusive, exhausting and in particular where FND is concerned, they will put your life both pre and post accident under a microscope as there are risk factors that can predispose you to developing FND. Should you find yourself in such a situation you may wish to consider applying for benefits or a grant.
Search for a Grant
Should you find yourself in a claim for compensation following an accident that has resulted in FND, PTSD or both, I would strongly recommend that you or someone on your behalf begins keeping a diary of symptoms, appointments with medical professionals and copies of any reports.
You can also ask your solicitor to request an interim payment from the Defendant to support you whilst the claim is progressing. If they refused, you can apply for a payment through the High Court. It is unfortunately a long and drawn out process, and my claim took almost four years.