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Original poster

Has media coverage of benefits made anyone else feel guilty claiming PIP?

92 replies

JustHereForthePIP · 20/08/2026 13:12

With all the fury in the media about benefits and scroungers, has it made anyone else feel guilty they get PIP, like it somehow makes you "less than". Or you shouldn't claim if you could scrape by without it?

I realised my household (me and 3 disabled DC) get quite a lot in disability benefits. But as none of us had any issues applying for PIP/DLA (all went through with no appeals, just accepted on the medical evidence) we're probably all quite far over the threshold to need it. As in it's bloody obvious we're disabled.

I think part of the guilt is that I still work as well, although I know it's not an out of work benefit. Oldest DC is in final year at school and also died a supported weekend job to build life skills. So we have other income, but still get DLA/PIP.

OP posts:
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OneScaredMamma · 06/09/2026 17:33

MarieBeau · 20/08/2026 19:48

Can I ask which autoimmune disease it is?

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Multiple Sclerosis.

Lindy2 · 04/09/2026 20:41

I have a young adult with ADHD and other mental health issues. They have been awarded PIP.

It makes me feel very sad when ADHD seems to specifically be targeted as not a real disability.

All the daily struggles, time in hospital, mental health crisises etc seem extremely real to me.

Lemonorzo · 04/09/2026 20:37

Yes, I claim for DD. I went from full time work to having to be home with her FT, I’m not sure what would have happened to us financially otherwise.

DH should apply, he should have applied years ago. He has a degenerative disease, and yes it cost us, luckily he doesn’t have to pay for the massive amount of medication he gets at least. The review process has put us off, also organising the hundreds of pages of medical notes.

OneLilacHedgehog · 04/09/2026 20:30

If you are on universal credit with three disabled children and you are disabled, you could easily be getting £3k benefits per month. Is this accurate for you? That is without rent.

Kirbert2 · 04/09/2026 20:27

I don't feel guilty at all that I claim DLA for my son. It doesn't even make a dent in the costs we have due to his disability.

lippylip · 04/09/2026 20:20

I don’t think people feel guilty claiming for their state pension/pension credit, child benefit, winter fuel so why should someone feel guilty for PIP?

Ted27 · 04/09/2026 20:14

@Bolon

could you specify what you regard as disabilty related expenditure

Bolon · 04/09/2026 19:58

If you aren’t using every last penny in disability related expenditure of course you should feel guilty. It’s not a ‘sympathy’ cash payment fgs.

Ted27 · 04/09/2026 19:28

@Lemonsherber

Don't tell anyone you are receiving PIP
I think its really sad that you feel guilty. All the media and rhetoric is succeeding in dividing society.
I'm 61 and have been receiving full rate PIP for 2 months. Its the only benefit I've ever claimed. I've always worked.
I get it because I have incurable cancer. I'm not going to be made to feel guilty about it.

Female123456 · 04/09/2026 19:04

JustHereForthePIP · 20/08/2026 13:12

With all the fury in the media about benefits and scroungers, has it made anyone else feel guilty they get PIP, like it somehow makes you "less than". Or you shouldn't claim if you could scrape by without it?

I realised my household (me and 3 disabled DC) get quite a lot in disability benefits. But as none of us had any issues applying for PIP/DLA (all went through with no appeals, just accepted on the medical evidence) we're probably all quite far over the threshold to need it. As in it's bloody obvious we're disabled.

I think part of the guilt is that I still work as well, although I know it's not an out of work benefit. Oldest DC is in final year at school and also died a supported weekend job to build life skills. So we have other income, but still get DLA/PIP.

media coverage did what it set out to do
make you feel guilty
that is exactly what it was supposed to do
shame people make them feel guilty

like you said you claim it for a reason and you are way above the threshold
hope it is helping you as that is what it is there for
i would avoid media coverage/programmes like this if you can
they know how to suck people in and there is nothing good about them
it is made to divide people
and encourages others to benefit bash others, for people to turn on one another.

Hmmmm I do wonder why.....

please don't feel guilty or ashamed 💐

i hope it doesnt put people off applying who need it
sadly i know it will 😞

Lemonsherber · 04/09/2026 18:44

Yes I feel guilty claiming pip ( lower rate daily living) despite paying in contributions for 43 years. Had a high stress physical job but had to leave due to my condition. Now I fear im going to be accused of being a scrounger

flea101 · 21/08/2026 16:27

I am on high rate for both. Serious mental health difficulties. I have just had my award extended for another 4 years. I have a life long condition that I have recovered from as much as I can. I don’t feel guilty for claiming, I do feel worried they are going to take it away when I have proved time and time again that I qualify.

Kirschcherries · 21/08/2026 16:25

@JustHereForthePIP Please don’t feel guilty. PIP is there for those who need it. As you say it can help to pay for treatments, therapies etc. that are needed due to disabilities.

Original poster
JustHereForthePIP · 21/08/2026 16:11

morgan56 · 20/08/2026 18:35

I’m afraid I have to be the spanner in the works here… I think if you feel guilty for it, you know you’re getting a lot of money that realistically you could live your life without. You mentioned you have other incomes so it’s not like your disabilities are stopping you from living a fairly normal life. I don’t doubt for a second that it’s not a lovely supplement to have. I’m on side just because you can claim it, doesn’t mean you should. But I know I’m in the minority here.
4 x PIP/DLA is astronomical money on top of everything else or wages.

You're right. It is a lot of money.

But, after some other comments on the thread I added up all the essential therapies we can't keep waiting years for on the NHS, adaptations, academic support, equipment I need to get to and stay in work, basically all the extras that come from being disabled. It's way more than the total of the disability benefits.

And I know I'll need to stop working long before pension age. My DC will age out of specialist education and need more support.

As a lot of other people said, I'd happily give up the PIP to anyone who wanted to take the disabilities that go with it.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 20/08/2026 22:08

I only started claiming it this year, but the press etc already hated me for being on UC anyway.
It is very sad though... such division over it, and at times I think an attempt to distract people from bigger issues.
I am not going to be made to feel guilty for something I am entitled to, and neither should anyone else.

JaceLancs · 20/08/2026 21:59

No it just shows peoples ignorance
I work FT and also get PIP enhanced daily living and standard mobility
The extra money allows me to pay for therapy, aids, special diet, taxis and higher cost parking as can’t walk far etc

PrincessDonutTheQueenAnneChonk · 20/08/2026 21:43

LordFarquard · 20/08/2026 16:21

Genuine question - what extra costs do you face because of your anxiety?

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I pay for my own therapy as the doctors are useless, I very rarely leave the house so need to have most things delivered, If I leave the house I need a taxi there and back to minimise the time I am out of the house. My DH can't work as I can not safely be left alone for any amount of time due to how quickly I spiral. I have to pay for certain medications I need as again I can't make it reliably to doctors appointments to be prescribed the medications I need (Omeprazole, large amounts of painkillers (hypermobility causes injuries.)
I'm sure theres more things, we're always paying a premium since I won't leave the house and my OCD means I won't let others do certain things.

caringcarer · 20/08/2026 20:51

DoAWheelie · 20/08/2026 19:03

No. I've been claiming for almost 35 years (started a claim a couple of months after DLA was first launched), I have one of the longest running claims in the country. I've been assessed many many times over this time and repeatedly been found to have high levels of care requirements.

I'm not going to let a bunch of idiots who are angry over something they don't understand make me feel bad for claiming what I need to maintain a decent quality of life.

I do feel scared though. The level of attacks in the media do correspond directly to the number of attacks I receive when out and about in real-life. I've been shouted at, hit, spit on, been tipped out of my wheelchair, had things stolen and destroyed, and barred from service over the years, and it's always worse when media is pushing the narrative of fraud and fakery.

Pushed out of your wheelchair is surely assault. I hope you reported this.

MarieBeau · 20/08/2026 19:48

OneScaredMamma · 20/08/2026 18:51

I received full PIP on my first attempt. I am seriously ill with autoimmune disease and feeling worse all the time. I hate the uncertainty of knowing it can be taken away at any time. My condition is incurable and gets worse over time. How it can be taken away is beyond me.

Can I ask which autoimmune disease it is?

DoAWheelie · 20/08/2026 19:03

No. I've been claiming for almost 35 years (started a claim a couple of months after DLA was first launched), I have one of the longest running claims in the country. I've been assessed many many times over this time and repeatedly been found to have high levels of care requirements.

I'm not going to let a bunch of idiots who are angry over something they don't understand make me feel bad for claiming what I need to maintain a decent quality of life.

I do feel scared though. The level of attacks in the media do correspond directly to the number of attacks I receive when out and about in real-life. I've been shouted at, hit, spit on, been tipped out of my wheelchair, had things stolen and destroyed, and barred from service over the years, and it's always worse when media is pushing the narrative of fraud and fakery.

emuloc · 20/08/2026 19:01

Bluebellsintheforest33 · 20/08/2026 18:35

This 100%. It disgusts me that British born disabled people are treated this way and made to feel like such an inconvenience, when asylum seekers get everything for nothing. It is really upsetting. No one chooses to be disabled. I desperately wish I didnt have severe depression and could participate in a normal life.

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What exactly do you think that they are getting? Pray tell.

LimpRat · 20/08/2026 19:00

LordFarquard · 20/08/2026 16:45

It’s about £600pcm which is not “fuck all” to most people.

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Yes
But most people don't have the additional expenses of disability, which can (and usually do) far outweigh that amount, when eligible for the full amount, due to the severity of disability.

So....yeah it is actually fuck all, in one of the richest countries on earth.

emuloc · 20/08/2026 18:55

Friendlygingercat · 20/08/2026 14:26

If the taxpayer can provide for so called asylum seekers (aka undocumented alien scroungers) who never paid a penny to the community then we should be able to look after British born sick and disabled. Government data reports that overpayments due to fraud historically hover near zero or at very low single-digit percentages

Hate is hate. Don't try to direct hate elsewhere, it makes you no better.

OneScaredMamma · 20/08/2026 18:55

olafree · 20/08/2026 17:40

I don’t feel guilty. I feel scared though. The attitude and hate aimed at the disabled recently is awful. People see crap online and think we are living in luxury at their expense. Then they see other people slagging off disabled people and it becomes normalised. People are becoming very comfortable in showing their hate for people like me.

im not long in from work. I’m a wheelchair user. Today I’ve had someone at the traffic light give me the middle finger and shout something awful and a customer at work called me an ableist slur. I should be euthanised apparently. This is becoming more and more common. I’ve even got family who’ve refered to me as lucky! Because I had a car through motorbility. Lucky would be to be able to walk, not have someone have to wash my lower half and to not be catheterised.

no guilt here. I use my pip to employ a carer and hire my wheelchair. I no longer drive.

I am so sorry to read this. You don't deserve this. None of us do.

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