Silversurfer,
Now I think you may see why I'm confused. There is so much conflicting information out there. The tips on the Benefits and Work website are useful but in order to get the full benefit of their advice you have to be a paid up member of their site. As you say, perhaps I'll have to keep jumping through their hoops and see what happens. It all feels so humiliating though, especially as my doctor is well aware of the facts of my case. Thing is, the Benefits and Work site actually says that if you get a lower award, think it's wrong and then push for an appeal, they often turn down the whole thing. That sounds spiteful to me. Is that a way to force people not to bother with an appeal? It's no fun to be in pain and then feel as though someone is virtually accusing you of faking it, when, like I say, the only thing between me and real agony is regular doses of morphine. I don't think they hand that out like sweeties! I hope your own incapacity is bearable and I'm happy that you, at least, had a favourable outcome to your case.