Today marks the launch of a national campaign called #SCCforME, calling for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E./C.F.S.) to be recognized under the Severe Conditions Criteria (S.C.C.). The campaign, led by Stripy Lightbulb CIC, aims to bring attention to the issue of repeated benefit reassessments for individuals with M.E./C.F.S. and calls for a shift in focus from functionality to permanency.
The S.C.C. is a government policy designed to protect individuals with lifelong, disabling conditions from repeated benefit reassessments. However, despite overwhelming scientific and medical evidence that recovery from M.E./C.F.S. is rare, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not automatically recognize M.E./C.F.S. under S.C.C.
This means that individuals with M.E./C.F.S. are forced into repeated reassessments to prove they remain disabled, even after being awarded Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA). These reassessments are not only harmful, triggering post-exertional malaise and worsening symptoms, but also exhausting and wasteful of taxpayer money.
The #SCCforME campaign is not about expanding benefits or increasing eligibility, but rather about efficiency, fairness, and compassion. It calls for automatic recognition of M.E./C.F.S. as a lifelong condition under the S.C.C., clearer guidance for assessors regarding fluctuations not equaling recovery, and an end to repeated reassessments for those who have already been awarded LCWRA.
To support the campaign, members of the public are encouraged to take part in a one-day campaign by sending pre-written emails to the DWP or their MP, posting campaign messages on social media using #SCCforME, and sharing campaign graphics to amplify visibility. The aim is to create a surge of emails and posts on one day to create urgency and impact, making it harder for decision-makers to ignore.
Sally Callow, Managing Director of Stripy Lightbulb CIC, states, “This is not about getting more people onto benefits. It is about stopping the waste of taxpayer money and ending harmful reassessments for people with M.E./C.F.S. Recovery is rare, in the absence of approved treatments or a cure, and reassessments only cause harm. The system must shift its focus from functionality to permanency.”
To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, visit stripylightbulb.org. The website provides full details, template emails, social media posts, and shareable graphics to support the campaign. For further information, please contact Sally Callow at info@stripylightbulb.com or 07725 658199.
The #SCCforME campaign is an important step towards bringing attention to the need for change in the way individuals with M.E./C.F.S. are assessed for benefits. By working together and raising our voices, we can create a more efficient, fair, and compassionate system for those living with this debilitating condition.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.