Family member awarded enhanced pip - AIBU?

I know her very well so do know that there is no way she is disabled anywhere near 50% of the time. She will have a relapse around the time she needs to be assessed, otherwise she cooks, cleans, dog walks, babysits, meals out, all day drinking in pubs and at home with the family in the garden, foreign holidays where she gets so smashed drunk she falls down.

She travelled to Turkey for a gastric sleeve and lost about 5 stone. She may be an exception but I can absolutely guarantee she is well enough to work.

FFS read the bloody posts. I have not said everyone doesn’t need an appointee. I said “not everyone” and “some”. And nowhere have I said anyone is “at it”.

I didn’t say you said everyone. It was in response to the post at the start of point you responded to which said “Surely if someone had learning difficulties they would have an appointee.” If you look back on the quotes you will see that. My point was there is no surely about it, because not everyone does.

An appointee can sometimes be in place though when the claimant doesn’t believe it is necessary.

They need to set up an independent first tier for PIP. I feel like loads don't claim who should and some get it who shouldn't based on their knowledge of the system.

But many do .. have some empathy for others not everyone is at it.

Whilst not relevant for all, I'd assume that many people are coping better with their condition precisely because of the PIP. Having the money to fund things that help make it more manageable.

I didn’t say dyslexia was the only learning difficulty. I said “for example”. Which means it is one example, not a complete run down. Just because your DW needs that support doesn’t mean all do.

I didn’t say everyone. I said the DWP offer it where this kind of disability exists. Some cognitive disorders are classed as learning disabilities, and can make coping with the ins and outs of a benefit claim very difficult. It’s up to the claimant whether they accept or not and it depends on the level of impairment.

FFS dyslexia isn't the only learning difficulty,infact I'm not explaining any further as I know the level of support I give otherwise my dw wouldn't be able to do any of the things I highlighted.

Re the motability scheme. I don't know anything much about it but I used to work with a colleague who had a motability car (I assume they had PIP).

That car was what enabled them to work.

Sort of related, whilst discussing disability discrimination/hate. I'm currently in London visiting a friend. I was shocked to see an article in the Evening Standard about the London mayor wanting to pedestrianise parts of central London (and so effectively ban disabled people who need cars to get around) - despite central London being where several large hospitals are located, not to mention workplaces, shops, and homes.

That plan, plus the awful attitudes towards disabled benefits - and low amounts of money those benefits are, plus the what sounds like a stressful degrading process to get the money, makes me terrified of becoming disabled or ill.

No it’s just you rushing to post your whataboutery

This. I used to come across this quite often when I was dealing with reviews. When you’ve secured a level of PIP award you’ve come to rely on, when your condition changes it’s difficult to accept that you may no longer qualify. I had claimants who were very reluctant to report a change of condition, even when they had received an official notice of review. It’s easy to fall into the trap of benefit fraud without actually realising it.

Oh pipe down. That poster never said that it was for mobility problems in the first instance, did she? Maybe she should have been clearer in her rush to post her negativity.

I find it difficult to comprehend that as many people lie to get PIP as seems to be the case on this thread, yes. And the reason for that is because I worked with disabled claimants for over 15 years and saw first hand how even those with genuine severe and self evident disability were forced to jump through the most ridiculous hoops to secure any level of award. And I think you’ll find that the groups on social media are mostly dedicated to advising on how to make the best claim you can -not how to claim if you’re not disabled. There are self help groups everywhere - even on mumsnet, dedicated to helping disabled people navigate the benefit system and make claims that are likely to be successful first time round instead of having to go through the stress of appeal. Doesn’t mean they’re not disabled. PIP is actually one of the hardest benefits to claim, and the level of fraud within the disability benefits system is less than 1%.

@Julen7 No one is saying it doesn't happen, but it doesn't happen to the extent some of MN think. That is why when cheating is discovered there is often some sort of lical or national press coverage.

In this case it seems her initial award was not fraudulent, but she neglected to tell DWP her health had improved.

Eta: she also won £30k on the lottery, but didn't tell DWP. Oh dear, what an idiot.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/woman-who-filmed-herself-pole-29970404

Yes. I do this day in, day out.

Not everyone with learning difficulties would need support to the level of an appointee with what you describe. For example, some people with the learning difficulty dyslexia would manage all of what you list.

I'm not sure why you find it so difficult to comprehend that people lie to get PIP. As I've said before, there are entire groups on social media dedicated to helping people claim when they aren't disabled.

If that's true then surely the government can easily find these groups and investigate anyone committing fraud.

She is a good liar. Again, as I've already said, ages gone to the lengths to get a wheelchair to keep in her house.

Good liar you say. So perhaps lying to you about her health issues - as in downplaying her health issues, or telling you it's physical health issues when it's actually mental illness.

Sadly due to disability discrimination, some disabled and ill people feel ashamed and downplay it. Such a shame society has made people feel they have to do that.

Separately as I posted yesterday. Yes probably a small minority of people "play the system". People commit crimes - all types of crime. So it's likely that the small minority who might be faking illness, if not doing that, would just do another crime instead.

Meanwhile the majority of claimants are genuine. Also, as I (and other posters) also pointed out yesterday, there's more people entitled to and in need of benefits who aren't claiming (and struggling as a result). That's been officially reported.

What an utterly ignorant and vituperative thing to post about disabled people. Motability is a charity, and one that has a significant impact on the UK economy given the work that it does with the car industry. Contrary to what you’re hoping for, any changes to PIP in the budget will be in careful consideration of the impact on Motability - as they always have in previous rounds of welfare reform. Even the Tories understood its’ importance.

Assuming that the mobility allowance is still payable as part of PIP - which by your comments you seem to support - that is the only cost to the the tax payer and pays for the lease, insurance and maintenance of the car over the lease period. Everything else - advance payment, cost of adaptations, etc is paid for by the claimant themselves, and some have to save for years if they require complex adaptations in order to drive. As a tax payer it makes absolutely no financial difference to you or anyone else whether Motability continues to exist or not. And let’s remember that very many disabled people are tax payers too.

Motability was set up to work with the UK car industry to provide a cost effective way to keep the very most disabled people mobile - good for their wellbeing and improved their prospects of getting/staying in employment. It’s been in operation for nearly forty years and has considerable buying power as well as significant influence within the UK motor industry, and as I said, scrapping it would have an impact on the economy. So you’re actually advocating for something that will hurt UK productivity and mean unemployment for the many people who work for Motability (most of whom are disabled themselves) and those who rely on their lease vehicles for travel to work.

Could it be that your gleeful anticipation of the scrapping of a charity working so well for the disabled stems from the usual ‘disabled scroungers get free cars’ kind of thinking ? It certainly sounds that way from the way you seem to want to categorise certain disabled people as more ‘worthy’ of a Motability vehicle than others - you clearly know little or nothing of the effects of disability, which is what PIP and other disability benefits are based on.

Your post wins the thread for the nastiest, most vitriolic and least thought through post here. Well done.

Thank you

Oh behave.

Stop trying to defend the indefensible.

Well she wasn’t. She was claiming it for mobility problems. You can Google the case if you’re in any doubt although seeing it in black and white will still probably prompt more arguments and whataboutery

Are you for real!!to navigate appointments,UC journal entries, absorbing information and taking appropriate steps,pray tell how someone with literacy, numeracy,comprehension ,no digital skills would manage with this?.

And, what is your point? She could have been claiming PIP for her mental health. That would not mean that she could not do yoga, or pole dancing, unless I am missing something🤔

Whoa…

The case officer concerned should have all their cases reviewed.

That actually would make sense. With MH, and mobility you could score say 8 points for needing help with unfamiliar journeys, and say 4 for struggling with walking over 200m reliably. Due to something like arthritis for examples. they might have a mixture of problems,

Maybe that is where the confusion arises over them 'walking up a hill' or whatever it was. But still qualifying for higher mobility.