Family member awarded enhanced pip - AIBU?

Yes of course. Uc with LCWRA and PIP can be a similar figure than a full time nmw job.

People do realise that PIP isn't an out of work benefit?

Some people receiving it are too unwell to work, but others are working - often because of their PIP.

PIP is, I understand, to pay for the extra costs incurred by their health issues or disability. For some people their PIP is what enables them to work.

Separately I'm still stunned to hear that so many people are apparently cheerfully telling all and sundry - friends, family members, colleagues, neighbours, and casual acquaintances that they're committing fraud. Pretty stupid imo. Presumably if they're so openly telling everyone they know, they're likely to get caught.

Also surprised so many people, including the many many genuine claimants, tell anyone they're claiming benefits given the current climate of stigma and increased disability discrimination.

I have a colleague who claims it for mental health issues whilst spending all day supporting addicts. Not sure what descriptors it was awarded on.

I understand this but there are fraudsters who see PIP as a top up to their universal credit.

This…and I’m thinking once on it it how many people ever want to admit to getting better and risk losing what has become part of their income?

PIP isn’t an out of work benefit. It’s a universal benefit paid to contribute to the cost of living with a disability. And it’s a fact that many people who qualify for standard sickness benefits will also qualify for a level of PIP for the same condition. Doesn’t mean they’re claiming either benefit fraudulently - the two benefits are assessed and paid for entirely different reasons.

If you are able to be a nurse full time you don’t meet the criteria for PIP. Nursing involves moving and handling, running for crash calls, manual dexterity for changing dressings etc.
my friend claim PIP and works full time but she works on an office and isn’t hands on.

Mumsnet is always very naive when it comes to issues like this. The reality is there are ways to 'scam' the pip system. Mumsnetters largely won't know this, but people who abuse the system pass on their 'tips' to each other. Largely involving illnesses that are hard to prove - mental health, fibromyalgia etc and going to the doctors about these symptoms for 'evidence' and exaggerating to the assessor.

Yes many many people are exaggerating their illnesses to claim PIP. It's a lot easier than working 37 hours a day 5 days a week. The reality is that a lot of these people aren't fit for full time work. They wouldn't last a normal job. Another reality is that standards benefits pay about 400 quid a month which is barely enough to survive on hence the PIP fraud.

It's so difficult isn't it? With having to admit that your disability is that bad, comes a sense of... Well... Life over then. Some of us still dream of an impossible career!

Likewise with your Mum, my Nan got assessed to have a walk in shower fitted by the council (okay maybe not like your Mum!) she was ooh no I'm fine, look I've even got this exercise bike - shall I show you how I use it?!

Nan! Too stubborn, felt out of the bath within 2 months and copped the cost privately for the shower. I'd only ever seen a washing basket on that bike!

Very difficult for MN not to be judgmental when it comes to disability benefits. Claimants should sit quietly during the day, and at night cover themselves with a blanket and wait quietly to die, so they’re not too much of a burden to the tax payer. Absolutely no account taken of the fact that a great many people who claim benefits like PIP actually work and are tax payers themselves.

Exactly this. I requested the PIP form 3 times before I actually completed it. I couldn't admit that I had a disability. I'm a health care professional, I'm supossed to help others, not need help myself. The interview was so hard, I cried for hours after I finished it. And then doubted myself, maybe I was too negative, maybe I really shouldn't get PIP, maybe I dont deserve, others are worse off than me
And then when I got the letter confirming I was awarded PIP, I cried again. Part of me wanted someone to tell me I don't have a disability.
Those that are genuine often find the process really emotionally challenging, especially their first application.

Better tell DWP it has got its stats wrong, then.

My old nurse manager claimed it for a back problem but still worked full time

Plenty of people on PIP work full time. It is an in work benefit. I am surprised you don't know that.

I used to assess and not everyone had supporting evidence. We could ring the GP, however, with under an hour to assess and write up few assessors ever followed up even when it was clearly fraudulent. I would guess there is large scale fraud with PIP. My old nurse manager claimed it for a back problem but still worked full time.

I didn't get mine until they'd been sent my entire medical history since age 18.

PIP is notoriously difficult to get. You can't just go online, meet the markers then get it. You're questioned over everything. Well, I was. Records spoke for themselves though.

Report her. Pisses me off that some people blatantly lie like this, and others can't get the basic help or dignity they need

None of that means anything. It is how it affects her which is important. Why don't you ask those that you know "on the fiddle", what they wrote on their form

Not no fraud, but the fraud rate is very low. According to DWP, not posters on this thread.

No -one is saying there is no PIP fraud. There is a level of fraud attached to most benefits. But the rate of fraud in disability benefits is low - around 0.1% because the eligibility criteria, checks and balances are applied more stringently.

Face to face aassessments were restarted in May 2021. DWP announced that wherever possible assessments would either be by phone or paper based. Face-to-face assessments are still widely carried out where a decision cannot be made using other methods. Increasingly DWP are also utilising video calling using various apps, which also qualify as a face to face.

One of the descriptors is "leaving the house causes overwhelming psychological distress" which I scored full points for as in my case I'm unable to do it alone, I can't drive somewhere alone, or follow a route on my own because of my panic and anxiety, I also have fibromyalgia and was awarded it on the basis that it is can be incredibly difficult on my worst days for me to walk 200 meters or I can do it but I would be in pain, it would take me an unreasonable amount of time and the after effects of doing that activity. Just to add, I didn't provide any medical info on my application. I'm not sure whether they did infact contact my GP or my therapist.

Well according to most people on this thread there is no PIP fraud so go figure

No, mobility. Apparently she’s always in pain she just pushes on through - apart from the fact that she actually admitted this isn’t true

I can't remember the last time I heard anyone have a face to face assessment ? not since before lockdown anyway.

No, they’re definitely not naive. The rate of fraud and DWP error is around 0.1% for disability benefits. They don’t award benefit on the basis that something that can’t be proven could be true. The medical evidence has to support what the claimant says. If it doesn’t benefit is unlikely to be awarded unless the balance of probability is significantly in favour of the client - mostly based on other observations which support what’s being said. Many people here not realising that at a face to face assessment the claimant is not only being judged on the medical evidence, but also what the assessor observes about their overall behaviour on the day - demeanour, mood, appearance, etc.

Haven't read the thread but since being on MN I've been amazed at how many people seem to a) tell their whole extended family, neighbours, friends, hairdressers etc their very personal health and/or financial information, and b) happily tell all these people they're committing fraud.

That aside, re your family member OP. Maybe she feels embarrassed about her health issues and/or need for benefits - so is pretending to you that she's doesn't need the help. That scenario is sadly not uncommon.

It's awful some people feel that way but sadly some do. Probably because there's still a lot of prejudice about ill health and disability, and separately about needing benefits.