A Norwegian Court of Appeal has ruled fully in favor of a 23-year-old man with severe ME, concluding that the welfare agency (NAV) wrongly denied him disability benefits.
The court found that his condition is severe, permanent, and leaves him bedridden and fully dependent on care, with no remaining relevant treatment options.
The ruling overturns a previous rejection by NAV, and confirms his right to disability benefits, with the state also ordered to cover significant legal costs. While one judge dissented—arguing from a psychosomatic perspective—the majority decision is expected to be important for others with ME.
Although the case could technically be appealed to the Supreme Court, this is considered unlikely.
The judgment also strongly supports his eligibility for additional “young disability” benefits, as his illness began in childhood and has prevented education and work throughout his life.
We believe that this ruling — and even the dissent by one judge — confirms that it is absolutely crucial to establish a separate guideline for ME with PEM, clearly stating that the illness is somatic.
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You may read the full, Norwegian, version of this article with any translator tool: Kolbjørn vant i lagmannsretten! 🎉
Translated article from Stavanger Aftenblad by our Board Leader: «ME-sufferer won – now elected officials and the state must clean up»:
PDF of previous article in English, with background info on the court case, «Legal security of people with ME is threatened»:
A number of articles on the ongoing consolation process on a new guideline for “long-term fatigue including ME/CFS”, also in Norwegian, may be read here: Retningslinjene