A Derbyshire woman who built a following on TikTok by guiding people through the disability benefits application process says she is being unfairly accused of teaching claimants to game the system.
Sara Middleton, 47, is described as a "sickfluencer" – a chronic illness influencer who creates content aimed at helping eligible individuals access government support.
The mother-of-one began gaining attention on the platform after posting a video criticising welfare reform last spring.
"The biggest misconception is that you can help someone cheat the system, all I'm trying to do is educate," she said.
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She maintains accusations of helping people "cheat, scam or hack the system" are unfounded, arguing medical evidence requirements make fraud impossible.
Sara was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition causing chronic pain, when she was just 17 years old.
Over the following three decades, her health deteriorated significantly, with additional diagnoses including spinal issues caused by nerve compression, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, anxiety and costochondritis – an inflammatory condition affecting the chest.
She now relies on walking aids and experiences unpredictable episodes where nerve damage causes her legs to give way without warning.
Sara Middleton was diagnosed with fibromyalgia when she was just 17 years old
|TikTok
"Some days I wake up and my husband asks, 'where are we on the damage meter today?'" she told reporters.
"It is hard, but these are the cards that I was dealt, so I have to deal with it."
Sara works as a motor finance administrator and receives £749 monthly in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) support.
Her content has resonated widely with viewers seeking guidance on navigating the benefits system.
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One video addressing the two major errors that lead people to fail their PIP reviews has attracted more than 229,300 views, while another explaining how to report changes in circumstances without losing support has been watched over 96,000 times.
Sara insists that gaming the system is simply not feasible given the documentation requirements.
"With PIP, you can't give key phrases or say, 'If you use this word, you'll get this' – because you need the diagnosis letters, consultant reports, assessment outcomes and test results," she said.
Sara Middleton insists gaming the system is simply not feasible given the documentation requirements
| GETTY"PIP is the hardest support to get, and I just try to explain to people how to communicate with the Department for Work and Pensions to get benefits they are eligible for."
Sara attributes much of the hostility she encounters to misleading narratives perpetuated by politicians and media outlets.
"Disabled people are just trying to get through things day by day," she said.
"Then you have politicians suggesting you can come and get a Motability car for tennis elbow, acne or constipation. And people believe it, then they come after us."
She describes herself as a "veteran of chronic illness" and says her goal is to help claimants articulate their situations clearly when dealing with assessors.
"I teach people how to communicate their circumstances, how to paint the picture when the assessors ask for details of their situation," she explained.
"I want to educate, advocate and empower. I want people to be confident and have a fair shot."
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