Family member awarded enhanced pip - AIBU?

why would she tell you about her claim and that she's lied? I have bad stomach issues and can physically walk but for 2 weeks out of 4 I have possible endo pains from ovulation and my periods and get really dizzy. I'm also autistic. struggling to get higher rate mobility, told I might lose the claim if I take it to tribunal so I haven't

This! They contact GOs, specialists, consultants etc. She must have lied to them all

My autistic partner was claiming disability benefits 24 years ago when he went to University, so you're simply wrong on this, I'm afraid.

Short of reporting her to the Benefits Office, there isn't much you can do and I sincerely hope you don't do that.

She may have exaggerated rather than lied and people do have conditions which cause difficulty in walking sometimes but not all the time. They have good days and bad days. I understand that very well.

Honestly, moe and more I think it is unwise to confide in friends or family - or anyone - details about personal finances. It can cause resentment which may not be shown openly but festers away.

I know not why, it's so pointless.

Nope. What a fucking awful comment. The motability scheme is reserved for those who are awarded the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP because they have severe mobility problems. Christ people. Stop reading the Daily Fail, do a bit of research into the eligibility criteria for PIP and apply a bit of critical thinking before you post from sheer ignorance.

What do you do in mental health? It’s always people who give vague job descriptions who give information that doesn’t tally with lived experience of most psychiatric nurses, social workers and benefit advisors etc.

This is surprising as IME you have to send evidence?

Yes they ask for supporting documents and ask who's care you're under and if anyone like OT etc is involved.

I know someone well, who is claiming both types of PIP and I'm sure she could work from home (she enjoys many hobbies, which I don't begrudge her) but she sees no reason to bother

PIP is not related to employment. You can work and get it and not work and get it.

Such an old scam! People often fake neurological conditions because they are very easy to fake and very difficult to verity - I think they introduced compulsory urine tests only about 9 years ago, when the claimant claiming neurological disturbance has to demonstrate the presence of their particular medicine prescribed for the condition in the urine - but I don't know how they really properly check, etc.

Forgive me for raising it, but my Bulgarian ex SIL told me how she gamed the system to warrant a full NHS-funded check-up habitually denied to the taxpayer (even unheard of). She would go to a GP, complain of flank pain and GP predictably would give her a bottle to pee in, she would go to the surgery's toilet, pee in the bottle, then prick her finger and put a drop of blood in her urine. The GP would prescribe antibiotics to 'clear it', she would not take them, present again in a week's time and repeat the process - and be promptly referred for ultrasound tests, etc. etc. I thought to myself it was good that she only wanted a full check-up with this cheating, but if she was minded to fake some condition with hematuria as a symptom - what was to stop her?

Our system is not made for liars, it is made for honest people.

How's that rude????
You go to your Dr, all the time complaining of pain, he/she can't find anything wrong......
Fibromyalgia
How can Fibromyalgia be proved?
It's an umbrella term that is completely and utterly abused.🙄

No, it isn’t harder to prove you don’t have a mental health condition. Standard GP treated anxiety and depression conditions are very rarely awarded PIP. The bar is set very high for mental health conditions and in most cases, at the very least your treatment needs to be via second line, consultant led mental health services.

I loathe the Mail and am a Labour voter, but people have valid questions about the amount of disability benefits being paid out and to whom, because the number has gone up a lot in recent years.
Many people actually know someone claiming PIP well enough to have reasonable questions about it. Myself included;
I know someone well, who is claiming both types of PIP and I'm sure she could work from home (she enjoys many hobbies, which I don't begrudge her) but she sees no reason to bother.
More annoyingly, she recently encouraged her son to claim, (for autism) despite the fact he is very bright, able, active, and just off to take up a good uni place.
Sorry but there's no way he would've been awarded a disability benefit 20 years ago. It's got completely out of hand and saying so isn't bashing disabled people, its bashing a crap system and the people who take advantage of it.

This is why benefits paid into a benefit bank account with a benefits credit card and a limit on cash withdrawals is a good solution.

Accountability and audit is the key to cutting benefit fraud.

Physical cash is not needed anymore in this society and benefits will catch up.

Sorry but this is bollocks. I was a benefit adviser from 2013 when PIP was first introduced, until quite recently, and with the exception of Covid when face to face assessments were suspended there has always been a requirement for medical evidence. If the claimant doesn’t provide independent medical evidence there is either a face to face assessment or a paper based assessment in cases where the disability is sufficient to be able to make a decision without seeing the claimant.

DWP case managers, who make the decisions on awards of PIP are not medically trained so they ALWAYS need medical guidance - they are not qualified to do so without it.

That I believe, to many people nowadays claiming mental health to get benefits because it's harder to prove you don't have mental health....

Obviously there's genuine people but they are few & far between!

No, that’s really not the reason.

@Didshejustsaythatoutloud Didn't know you had a medical degree!

The onus is on the claimant to provide the evidence ,and yes many people do apply without evidence and many people also don't have successful claim.s

I’m not a benefits basher but I’m a realist.
i work in mental health and honesty I am regularly struggling to identify what needs/ treatment someone may require and at the end they will mention they have. PIP review coming up. I took two call just last week from people who wanted a diagnosis as they said PIP had told them they needed one to progress their claim.
I have assessed people in the past who tell me they are severely agoraphobic and never go out then let slip and mention something thats happened on a recent holiday abroad!!
And the number of usually young men who come for assessment and disclose smoking £100 of cannabis a week who admit to using PIP to pay for it. Its madness.
So whilst I do believe the majority of claimants are genuine its certainly not 0% Im afraid!!

You're right. I'll send 2 back.

Oh FFS don't be so rude!

And?

It's their money.

There are always people who will abuse the benefits system just as people avoid/evade tax and fiddle their expenses. There are people who rent out their council house as they actually own a home elsewhere. I am sure that some people receive PIP who shouldn't. On the other hand but I support clients to apply for PIP and despite being clearly are eligible very many are turned down. One of my clients was refused PIP as the assessor claimed that he could drive and so couldn't have any issues with his memory. My client had a licence but had not driven for two years as he was unsafe to drive. Another client apparently had no mobility problems despite having had a series of falls including one where he fell into the garden fence!

Oh the shock and the shame. FOUR CHILDREN?! How discusting!

#joking obvs!

I’ve been hearing this since I worked for the DWP 30 years ago, although it was DLA then.

Nothing will change - Labour are still reeling from the rage and poll drop around removing WFA.

Vouchers have always cost a huge amount to administer and fraud is rife.