General

A note on weight/disability

Brastidious:
This came up in chat and figured to make a topic about it.

Bear in mind that this UK centric and other countries may differ.

That said, being fat can qualify you for disability benefits.
When completing the forms, you need to be honest about how it affects you, especially day to day. It may seem hard, but it's the difference in qualifying or not.

I can't give specific advice, but it is something to consider if you've had days that have been difficult due to your increased size.


There is a caveat to this. Being so fat that it impairs your daily living can help you get disability, but you usually have to have a specific comorbidity to go with it.

And always have a disability lawyer.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Brastidious:
That's why I make the point on UK centric, you can just apply without a lawyer involved


The disability lawyer is to increase your chances of success. You don't need one to apply. But it does help a lot.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

I would feel bad mooching off the government dole.
I'm just weird I guess.

Here in the USA if you do draw a disability check it comes with stipulations.
Not to mention a private detective working for the government watching just about everything you do.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Ditzy:
I would feel bad mooching off the government dole.
I'm just weird I guess.

Here in the USA if you do draw a disability check it comes with stipulations.
Not to mention a private detective working for the government watching just about everything you do.


Oh, 100%. The are always looking for reasons to take away your disability check no matter why you are on disability.

This is why if you are obese you have to have a comorbidity.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

In Australia that is the NDIS scheme, Earlier AAT rulings have determined that obesity alone is not a disability because it does not 'entail a loss of, or damage to, a physical, sensory or mental function' (see Schwass and the NDIA). However, conditions that arise from obesity may still be viewed as a disabilities according to the criteria.
Again, for obesity alone the short answer is no – the NDIA does not consider obesity to be a permanent impairment. Whilst acknowledging the significant challenges associated with weight loss, AAT rulings frequently emphasise that treatment options (including bariatric surgery where applicable and other less invasive options) will remedy the impairment and should be tried before applying for access.
Whilst conditions resulting from obesity may fit the criteria for disability (as described above), in order to meet the requirement of likely permanence, the NDIA will need to see evidence that those impairments would remain even if the person lost weight. This is challenging and will vary on an individual basis. In the example above relating to limb impairments, GP evidence that ‘weight loss would stop the condition progressing, but would not remedy completely’ the lower limb neuropathy did satisfy the AAT that the condition was likely to be permanent. However, in this same example, a number of other resulting conditions (e.g., lymphedema) were not considered to be permanent because medical evidence indicated that weight loss would remedy these impairments.

So based on the above I doubt in Australia anyone would qualify for any significant support, account of obesity alone, or even with related issues. Not from the National Disability insurance scheme anyway.

More over services in Australia are to aid welfare and weight management if you are unable to function account of your weight. It is not been designed to support a person who wants to gain, and then finds they have mobility or related issue, unless weigh loss is attempted including surgery options.

Having said that it is a shame that you can’t choose to be a gainer and still obtain medical assistance to mediate risks without high levels of stigma from the medical profession, unless like me you a doctor that’s as fat as I am.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

There is this one lady in my Overeaters Anonymous group that is on disability for knee problems ( she claimed was because of her weight) but she seems to walk ok.
We both weigh about the same but she is taller than me.
She mentioned I should try to get it and I said I don't think I want to.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Ditzy:
There is this one lady in my Overeaters Anonymous group that is on disability for knee problems ( she claimed was because of her weight) but she seems to walk ok.
We both weigh about the same but she is taller than me.
She mentioned I should try to get it and I said I don't think I want to.

For me, you are fat and so desirable so it's hard to square with 'a disability'. So agree with you.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Ditzy:
There is this one lady in my Overeaters Anonymous group that is on disability for knee problems ( she claimed was because of her weight) but she seems to walk ok.
We both weigh about the same but she is taller than me.
She mentioned I should try to get it and I said I don't think I want to.

MRFATS53:
For me, you are fat and so desirable so it's hard to square with 'a disability'. So agree with you.


That's? Not how disability works?

I'm not saying that fat equals disability. However, how horny you feel about someone doesn't have any impact on whether or not they are disabled.

It's like saying "Whether or not a it rains today depends on if my dog rolls over." These are two wholly unrelated things.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Ditzy:
There is this one lady in my Overeaters Anonymous group that is on disability for knee problems ( she claimed was because of her weight) but she seems to walk ok.
We both weigh about the same but she is taller than me.
She mentioned I should try to get it and I said I don't think I want to.
Suggest you get a life - might be better than peeping into that of others and issuing pompous judgement.

MRFATS53:
For me, you are fat and so desirable so it's hard to square with 'a disability'. So agree with you.

Munchies:
That's? Not how disability works?

I'm not saying that fat equals disability. However, how horny you feel about someone doesn't have any impact on whether or not they are disabled.

It's like saying "Whether or not a it rains today depends on if my dog rolls over." These are two wholly unrelated things.
5 months

A note on weight/disability

Everyone's journey is so different, and I'm not here to knock anyone. I got my current job when I was losing weight, having hit 370 as my then all-time high. I was about 250 when I was hired, and I ended up getting down to 190 or so. I'm currently about 600, and I've had several performance evaluations and three raises. When my lifestyle has made me unable to work, it has typically been because I've eaten so much, I can't move or need help to urinate. I've also struggled with bouts of immobility issues and body pain. However, I work from home. Given the criteria for disability in the U.S., I don't think I'd meet it. I also enjoy my job, since it gives me an extra social layer in my life.
5 months
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