Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Person with MH problems should not be better off no working

581 replies

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 16:54

Just that really. Someone working a minimum wage job full-time should not be worse off than someone not working due to mental health problems and claiming benefits.
I know several people in this situation claiming UC for housing benefit, council tax, ESA, disability top up and PIP. They all have no work record and few qualifications so would probably only get a minimum wage job. But their income would reduce. So they have a financial incentive not to recover.

OP posts:
YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 21:06

Hastentoadd · 13/04/2025 21:05

I disagree, as how can they be sure, no one is going to admit to faking it

My dad faked mental ill health for ESA.

OP posts:
YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 21:05

@SenselessDrivel forgot that, I meant LCWRA

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 13/04/2025 21:05

Mumble12 · 13/04/2025 20:49

You can disagree with the governments own figures if you like 🤷

professional psychiatrists will tell you it’s actually not very difficult to tell who is ‘faking’ poor mental health

I disagree, as how can they be sure, no one is going to admit to faking it

Maitri108 · 13/04/2025 21:04

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:34

PIP, UC, LWRA

How much are they getting? For example, there are two types of PIP and you can receive different amounts. You say that these three friends get more than NMW through benefits, so how much in benefits does each get?

SenselessDrivel · 13/04/2025 21:03

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:55

I do not know. I did not use the phrase

What does this refer to?

Person with MH problems should not be better off no working
TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 21:03

However at @YourTidyScroller I usually save if for judgemental folk.

TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 21:02

However at @YourTidyScroller I usually save if for judgemental folk.

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 21:02

ChickenBananas · 13/04/2025 21:01

You're saying they shouldn't even get as much income as a minimum wage job would provide.

No.
And someone working has costs associated with that.

OP posts:
ChickenBananas · 13/04/2025 21:01

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:55

I did not say that.

You're saying they shouldn't even get as much income as a minimum wage job would provide.

TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 21:00

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:54

@TheBuffetInspector no need to be so patronising. Do you always talk down to the poors?

Always.

I like to gather my wheelchair and throw money about with gay abandon.

Sometimes I can do it using my JK stick alone.

Serencwtch · 13/04/2025 20:57

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:52

@Serencwtch I know they are not supposed to discriminate in theory, but they do.
You have done well to have had so little time off sick.

Thank you. Am I worthy of my PIP now?

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:55

ChickenBananas · 13/04/2025 20:54

Again @YourTidyScroller why does someone severely impaired (I mention paranoid schizophrenia) be forced to live in poverty and unable to claim PIP etc?

I did not say that.

OP posts:
YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:55

SenselessDrivel · 13/04/2025 20:54

Just out of interest @YourTidyScroller what is “disability top up?”

I do not know. I did not use the phrase

OP posts:
ChickenBananas · 13/04/2025 20:54

Again @YourTidyScroller why does someone severely impaired (I mention paranoid schizophrenia) be forced to live in poverty and unable to claim PIP etc?

TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 20:54

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:50

Myself then?

Must be.

We're all here and listening if you stop the attack.
(Some of us might be)

SenselessDrivel · 13/04/2025 20:54

Just out of interest @YourTidyScroller what is “disability top up?”

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:54

@TheBuffetInspector no need to be so patronising. Do you always talk down to the poors?

OP posts:
YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:52

@Serencwtch I know they are not supposed to discriminate in theory, but they do.
You have done well to have had so little time off sick.

OP posts:
TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 20:52

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:49

The person said they had PIP and worked in spite of serious mental health problems and needing time off work. That is a very rare position that is all.

Are you the office of statistics now?

No.

It's not that rare, I was in a similar situation.

I'll leave you to work out the percentages. Good girl.

Serencwtch · 13/04/2025 20:50

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:41

You are lucky that your employer employs you in spite of mania and psychosis episodes. That is rare

It's not that rare. Employers aren't allowed to discriminate based on a disability.

I'm valued because of what I contribute to my employer.

Outside of occupational health very few people are aware of my diagnosis. I let people know it is mental health related but I don't divulge details.

In the past year I had one inpatient admission so obviously had time off for that (10 days) & 3 home treatment team 'admissions' during which I carried on working for 1, reduced my hours for 1 & was off sick for one (4 days)

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:50

BigHeadBertha · 13/04/2025 20:48

That whole demonizing the poor thing isn't really a good look.

Myself then?

OP posts:
Mumble12 · 13/04/2025 20:49

Hastentoadd · 13/04/2025 20:06

I disagree, with some MH issues it’s very hard to determine if someone is faking or telling the truth, I’m sure a lot of people are in fact telling the truth but there are definitely some people out there that are not

You can disagree with the governments own figures if you like 🤷

professional psychiatrists will tell you it’s actually not very difficult to tell who is ‘faking’ poor mental health

YourTidyScroller · 13/04/2025 20:49

TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 20:43

If employed then yes, very lucky.

Do you have an issue with that too? Are you not backtracking on your original post?

The person said they had PIP and worked in spite of serious mental health problems and needing time off work. That is a very rare position that is all.

OP posts:
TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 20:48

Don't let the op get you down.

Nobody needs to defend themselves to @YourTidyScroller

Nobody.

Keep well everyone, hug yourself. Don't get wound up by a badly worded benefits bashing thread.
Move on to what matters.

BigHeadBertha · 13/04/2025 20:48

That whole demonizing the poor thing isn't really a good look.