Medical Matters > Disability Classification

ME Essential Autumn 2020

Question

How does the government define a disability? Does the government classify ME/CFS as a disability? I ask because I assume that this could have important implications for people who are having problems with benefits, education or work.

Answer

The best way to answer this question is to refer to the 2010 Equality Act – where ME/CFS is listed as a specific medical condition. But this does not mean that everyone with ME/ CFS – regardless of the severity – is automatically classified as having a disability. A person has a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Example from the guidance:

“A man has had chronic fatigue syndrome for several years. Although he has the physical capability to walk and to stand, he finds these very difficult to sustain for any length of time because he experiences overwhelming fatigue. As a consequence, he is restricted in his ability to take part in normal day-to-day activities such as travelling, so he avoids going out socially, and works from home several days a week. Therefore there is a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities. Day-to-day activities are things people do on a regular or daily basis. Examples include shopping, reading and writing, having a conversation or using the telephone, watching television, getting washed and dressed, preparing and eating food, carrying out household tasks, walking and travelling by various forms of transport, and taking part in social activities.”

The Equality Act Guidance from the Office for Disability Issues (2011) covers each component of the definition – impairment, substantial, day-to-day activities, long term – in more detail. Guidance and illustrative examples are also provided where relevant.

The general definition of disability therefore has four key components:

  1. The definition requires that the disability must arise from a physical and/or mental impairment. As far as ME/CFS is concerned, section A5 in the Guidance to the Act makes it clear that ME/CFS is a fluctuating medical condition that can cause substantial impairment.
  2. Almost all of the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS also make it clear that the symptoms must cause a significant impairment in relation to a person’s ability to carry out their normal daily activities (at home, work, school etc).
  3. The requirement that an adverse effect on normal daily activities should be a substantial one reflects the general understanding of disability as a limitation going well beyond the normal differences in ability which may exist among people. A substantial effect is one that is more than a minor or trivial effect. Normal day-to-day activities can include general work-related activities, and study and education-related activities, such as interacting with colleagues, following instructions, using a computer, driving, carrying out interviews, preparing written documents, and keeping to a timetable or a shift pattern.
  4. Having a long-term effect of the impairment is defined as:
    • Lasting at least 12 months, or
    • From the onset it is likely to last 12 months or more, or
    • Likely (i.e., may well) last for the rest of the person’s life.

Further information:

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Information provided by The ME Association should not be construed as medical advice. Don't assume any new or worsened symptoms are simply the result of having ME/CFS or Long Covid. We recommend that any information you deem relevant is discussed with your NHS GP as soon as possible. It is important that you seek personalised medical advice from the GP who is in charge of your care and who knows you well.

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