On 9th December 2025, we are holding our one-day campaign #SCCforME to demand fairness and clarity for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E./C.F.S.).
The Severe Conditions Criteria (S.C.C.) is meant to protect those who are not expected to ever be able to work due to a severe lifelong health condition or disability that is not expected to improve. The key criterion is permanence: the condition must last for the rest of a person’s life, with no realistic possibility of recovery through medical management. Despite this, M.E./C.F.S. is not automatically recognised under the S.C.C., leaving thousands of people trapped in a cycle of repeated reassessments that are harmful, exhausting, and unnecessary.
When we asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) whether M.E./C.F.S. qualifies under the S.C.C., the responses came from a clinical lead who made clear they are not a decision-maker. That’s why our campaign is directed at the policy decision-makers themselves.
Here are some of the answers we received:
“Whether ME/CFS meets this criteria will depend on the person, their symptoms and their trajectory of disease and will be determined during the application and assessment process.”
This is unnecessary box ticking. NICE guidance acknowledges that recovery from ME/CFS is rare. Fluctuations in symptoms do not equal recovery.
“Any fluctuation in a person’s health condition or disability can be accepted for SCC if their overall functional impairment is considered to always be at the level of LCWRA or greater. If the person is unable to complete a task reliably, safely, repeatedly and within a reasonable time, then they are considered to be unable to complete that task at all.”
This is an important acknowledgement: fluctuating conditions can still meet the S.C.C. if the overall impairment is severe enough. For many with M.E./C.F.S., this is exactly the reality.
“The answer to this depends on the individual, previous award and functional ability.”
This introduces unnecessary uncertainty, the S.C.C. should be applied consistently to conditions like M.E./C.F.S. where permanence and severity are well-documented.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that recovery is rare, the DWP continues to spend taxpayer money reassessing people with M.E./C.F.S. to test their functionality. This is excessively bureaucratic, inefficient, wasteful and harmful. If someone has already been assessed and shown to be eligible for LCWRA (Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity), they should not face further reassessments a few years later to prove they are still disabled. Their condition is permanent.
The focus must shift from functionality, which fluctuates, to permanency, which is the true measure of whether someone should qualify under S.C.C.
From 6 April 2026, people who currently have LCWRA but are wrongly judged to not meet S.C.C. will receive the higher rate of LCWRA, with their combined Universal Credit standard allowance and LCWRA increasing at least in line with inflation every year for the next four years. However, while this offers some financial protection, it does not solve the deeper issue: those with M.E./C.F.S. who clearly meet the S.C.C. should not face repeated reassessments.
“An individual currently awarded LCWRA but not SCC will not automatically be eligible for SCC unless they are reassessed, regardless of diagnosis. At their next reassessment the criteria can be considered and if applied will mean they will no longer require reassessment.”
This leaves people with M.E./C.F.S. in limbo, forced to undergo stressful reassessments despite the permanence of their condition.
Why #SCCForME Matters
- M.E./C.F.S. is a lifelong condition: NICE guidance makes clear that recovery is rare.
- Fluctuations do not equal improvement: Daily variability in symptoms does not mean the condition is resolving.
- Taxpayer money is being wasted: Reassessing people with permanent conditions is unnecessary and costly.
- SCC should apply consistently: If someone cannot complete tasks reliably, safely, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time, they meet the threshold.
- Reassessments are harmful: For people with M.E./C.F.S., reassessments are not only unnecessary but can worsen symptoms and cause significant distress.
📢 Call to Action: 9th December
On 9th December, we need a united show of strength to demand that M.E./C.F.S. is recognised under the S.C.C. The power of this campaign lies in everyone acting together on one day.
Here’s how you can take part:
- ✉️ Send the email – Copy, paste, and send the template email to the DWP or your MP.
- 💬 Post on social media – Use the hashtag #SCCforME and tag @DWPgovuk @stephenctimms @patmcfaddenmp.
- 🖼️ Share graphics – Add the campaign visuals to your posts to amplify visibility.
- 📅 Do it all on 9th December 2025 – or schedule ahead if needed, but make sure it lands on the chosen day.
All information and resources can be found and downloaded from this ‘#SCCForME Starter Pack’
A concentrated burst of emails and posts on one day creates impact and urgency. When MPs, the DWP, and the media see a surge of messages all at once, it signals strong public demand and makes it harder to ignore.
Together, a few hundred voices raised on the same day can make a big impact.
This campaign is about fairness, dignity, and protection for those living with M.E./C.F.S. The S.C.C. exists to safeguard people with lifelong conditions, it’s time for M.E./C.F.S. to be recognised as one of them.
Thank you for supporting this campaign.
Thank you for organising this.