AIBU to consider reporting someone I believe is committing benefit fraud?

It’s a spectrum isn’t it. I’m diagnosed with EDS and there’s no way I’d qualify for PIP, etc. but when I told someone I know with EDS that I’d just been diagnosed she said straight away she’d help me fill the PIP paperwork out to get it, coach me what to say, etc. she claims for everything. Says she can’t prepare meals, do personal hygiene on her own, etc. but she lives by herself 🤷‍♀️. She doesn’t have anyone come in and do stuff for her.

obviously I might deteriorate in the future but I’m not claiming anything now. I do agree though it would be a hard diagnosis to fake. The criteria are strict, lots of people on fb groups I’m on think they have it and can’t get diagnosed.

I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time OP.

I can well imagine how difficult this is for you to see and watch.

I am not sure what would happen if you report but it does sound an extreme case. Could well be some sort of mental illness like munchausen syndrome I guess.

Very sad she’s bringing her child into all this though.

Yes you can spend it on what you like but it's not there to buy carers in. You're the one who needs to do some research you've clearly no idea what carers allowance actually is.

I just wouldn't know anyone well enough to be certain they were committing fraud. Unless I lived with them I don't think I could make a judgement call on the severity of someone else's illnesses.

Its awful and thats why I had to say when it was lumped in with Fibromyalgia and ME and anxiety as something easy to fake. The criteria literally cannot be faked and the issue is incredibly debilitating so I can only assume its someone that doesnt understand the diagnostic criteria required to have a diagnosis of hypermobile EDS nor its impact.

Report.The DWP are finally investigating PIP claimants which is why the estimated fraud rate has trebled.

I recently went to tribunal with a client with Ehlers-Danlos, who had fought for years to have their condition's impact on their daily life recognised. It was one of the most brutal panels I have dealt with, and whilst we won, my second hand experience of the condition as a non sufferer (I have supported other clients with same) has left me in no doubt it is one of the more debilitating.

Absolutely, to say yhat Ehlers-Danlos can be faked, even the hypermobile type, implies they dont actually understand the illness or the criteria

I did explain it upthread so wont go into it again, but no it very much hurts all disabled people and is intended to make us feel shitty and like we shouldn't do anything, be happy or have any kind of life. Trust me these threads arent here because they are worried about a few cheating the system.

@ToffeeCrabApple
I agree with most of your post and am definitely group A but disagree that diagnosis for things like Ehlers Danlos is not possible
I’m past 60 and had health problems since I was under 30, I’ve tried for years to get health professionals to listen to me and join up the dots - it’s only in the last 2 years I’ve finally been diagnosed with a rarer type of ED and am currently under neurology, rheumatology, orthopaedics, urology and gastro/bowel consultants

This ☝️

We all get caught in the dragnet though, including yourself. Remember that!

I'm not being mean, welfare benefits is my profession it just doesn't help when there is misleading info on these posts. I've spent over a decade doing this work and one thing I do know is how important it is for people to have as little confusion as possible with what is already a confusing system for many. Also with a disabled child you would surely know that CA cannot be claimed in the way you stated.

Nobody is being mean
We are just pointing out your post was very misleading

How come that everyone i grew up with is able to cook?
Didn't adhd exist in the 20th century?
If it was undiagnosed how were people able to cook even though they had undiagnosed adhd?

It's best you don't have to be so mean. I was just saying a disabled person can apply for certain benefits, and yes, l do know what l am talking about because my child is disabled. Thank you

It is drumming up hate against disabled people. A lot of us have been reported because we don't fit people's idea of disability. I've had another disabled person telling me I'm not that disabled. By that point I'd been registered partially sighted for about 3 years so am clearly disabled. I've even had people with the same diagnosis tell me I'm lying because I managed yesterday or because they manage

Yes you did, and this was the start of some extremely misleading and incorrect information:

Why don't you SPEAK to her first about your concerns?
If you won't own it, and haven't got the moral courage to speak to her, for i suspect that your motives are coming from spite or jealousy.

But its not against the disabled community, its against those faking disability. And yes there are loads that do and yes I know a few, including those that get blue badges.
I am disabled, so I wouldn't drum up hate against myself!

I am not completely incorrect. My answer was that disabled people can apply for the benefits themselves. Yes you are right with what you say, but l never mentioned the criteria you have to meet to apply for these benefits . My point was, disabled people can apply themselves, l never mentioned anything else....

Also to add, you state a disabled person can also 'apply for attendance allowance etc.' Vague and misleading at best. Attendance Allowance can only be claimed by someone over State Pension age who meets the criteria of need/supervision for substantial time either during the day (lower rate) or both day and night (higher rate.) Working age, only PIP can be claimed, or in Scotland ADP. Under 16s its DLA (and the equivalent in Scotland.) Some PA claimants may stay on DLA depending on where they fell into the age criteria. I've only referred to non means tested benefits, not contribution based or UC.

It really is best if you have no real understanding of the relevant benefits not to post such vague and misleading info.

Yes a disabled person can apply for CA in respect of caring for someone else for 35 hours a week or more however this must not conflict with the needs that they claim their own disability benefits for. For example, if someone claims PIP or similar based on difficulty with cooking/washing and bathing/taking and managing medication, it will absolutely be flagged if they claim to be offering similar care to another. I have dealt with countless co-caring cases as a welfare benefits specialist and whilst caring for someone else as a disabled person is possible and claiming CA for doing so is possible, it is not as simple as you are indicating it is, nor in the context you claim ie claiming it then using it for carers for oneself.

No they cant as they are not caring
I have been claiming carers allowance for 12 years now
Do your own research

w

This is completely incorrect. Carer's Allowance can only be claimed by someone providing 35 hours or more per week of regular care to someone in receipt of a qualifying benefit such as PIP, DLA, ADP, AFIP or Attendance Allowance. The claimant of CA also has to meet other criteria including earnings threshold.