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Incapacity Benefit: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Volume 467: debated on Monday 19 November 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given to the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s report on those with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis when claiming incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement. (165787)

The report of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is about the way chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is treated within the NHS.

Entitlement to incapacity benefit does not depend on a person’s diagnosis or on the treatment they are receiving. It depends on the effect their condition has on their ability to work. This is a fairer way than using criteria based on specific conditions or diagnoses, because the same condition can have very different disabling effects in different people.

The Department recognises chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a real and potentially very disabling condition. Each person claiming benefit is assessed on the basis of the way the condition affects them as an individual. The personal capability assessment for deciding entitlement to incapacity benefit looks at a range of activities relevant to work, and assesses whether or not a person can carry them out reliably and safely, over a period of time.

As part of our welfare reform proposals we have reviewed and revised the personal capability assessment to ensure it is a robust and accurate assessment of limited capability for work. The revised assessment will be used to assess people claiming the new employment and support allowance, which will replace incapacity benefit for new customers.