Newhaven has a specialist advice service for people with MS

What do Jack Osbourne (Ozzy and Sharon’s son), actress Selma Blair and Nic Chapman of Pixiwoo have in common? You might not know it, but they all live with MS (or multiple sclerosis to give it it’s full name).

MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the coating that protects your nerves (myelin) is damaged. This causes a range of symptoms like blurred vision and problems with how we move, think, and feel. Once diagnosed, MS stays with you for life, but treatments and specialists[i] do help people to manage the condition and its symptoms.

The MS Society estimate that there are over 130,000 people with MS in the UK, and that nearly 7,000 people are newly diagnosed each year[ii].

Dealing with the physical effect of MS is one thing, but for many people, it might also lead to a world of uncertainty and complexity around money and finances, housing, work and even discrimination.

At Possability People[iii] we have a specialist advice service for people who live with MS.  The team are experts and understand things like what benefits are available to you if you have MS. They can provide support with lots of issues to do with your situation, including filling in forms for benefit applications. If you are turned down, they can support you through the appeals process. This involves asking for a mandatory reconsideration before an appeal.

Since the service began in 2018, we have helped 446 people, but only a handful of these are from Newhaven. We would like to encourage anyone living with MS, or who has family or friends who do, to contact us if they have any questions or want advice.

One of our service users (who wanted to remain anonymous) said:

“We wanted to let you know that the PIP application was successful, with the award being for the higher component in each category, which is wonderful news. We are so grateful for all of your time and help with this Chris; it is very much appreciated.”

Possability People provide advice on all disability benefits including Personal Independence Payments, Employment Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance. Most queries we deal with are around Personal Independence Payments.

All our Advice Centre staff have received training on MS as a specific condition.

We can be contacted by email: ms@possabilitypeople.org.uk or by phone:

Office number: 01273 894040 or mobile: 07934 297195.

Our office hours are 10-4 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. If no one answers please leave a message on the answerphone, including your phone number, and we will get back to you.

You can find out more about Possability People on our website at www.possabilitypeople.org.uk.

[i] https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms/do-i-have-ms

[ii] The MS Society

[iii] Possability People is a local charity that supports disabled people and people living with long term health conditions to live independently, with dignity and without prejudice.