Disability hate on MN

That one was so depressing. So many people saying they wouldn't want to see a stairlift in a holiday home because it wasn't aesthetically pleasing or because it made them think it was some old person's house that hadn't been properly renovated. No understanding that it would make the whole thing accessible to a whole bunch of people, and clear disgust over having to see something that reminded them of disability (because yes, old people who need walkers or wheelchairs or stairlifts are disabled too).

hear hear ! Well said.

🦗🦗

The PIP assessments are designed to catch you out.

One of the first questions asked (because ds has a physical disability as well as autism) is "what floor do you live on and is there lifts".

The answer is first and no.

What they don't see and don't know and I always say before answering is that he has been assessed by physio as managing the stairs on his crutches - we have been waiting 18 months to see OT - oh and when he can't walk he bum shuffles up the stairs in the communal area and I carry his wheelchair up for him.

People then ask "why don't you move". As if it's that simple to move. The place would have to be somewhere adapted or first floor and ground level entrance. It would also have to be affordable (currently HA). And if we could see the OT we could get a report to send to housing and get on medical need list for an adapted or suitable property. Or get a lift in communal area or something.

The irony is our flat is wheelchair friendly. They just don't think through the getting to it in a wheelchair bit

Yes. This is exactly what is happening.

If the posters were ignored, they wouldn't dominate the thread.

I agree,

I think where you have a poster posting absolutely vile rhetoric over and over with "key phrases" they aren't even there to make a point - they are there to derail. Because even those who don't agree with OP and those against their POV all respond to the 1 poster and the important point in discussion gets lost.

I think it's designed to ensure those with opposing views who could be persuaded to change their minds - don't.

i gave up years ago posting on threads about disability. the wheelchairs on busses and accessible toilets where the end for me.

also I don't think people realise that if your an adult with a disability and live in a care home you lose all you DLA/PIP apart from the mobility part. same with ESA you only get to keep about £24.50 a week...what riches.

Check if you can apply online. There's talk about it. But I'm not sure if it's still being piloted or has been rolled out

The system is abhorrent (as many testify) I've been to hell and back for the past four years trying to sort my own PIP and DDs DLA. The DLA telephone call handlers speak to people like shit, and regularly put the phone down on callers. (I was on the DLA thread on here for about 6 months - it's a common theme)

In the end, my GP took charge and recommended that I had a home visit for both claims. This is where a DWP officer comes out and completes the forms for you / with you. They obviously work for the department, and are not there to advise per se. However, they fill these forms in every day, and they take what you say and write it in the 'correct' way. I had previously waffled, and even with all the supporting medical evidence, got turned down (and again at Mandatory Reconsideration and Tribunal where I just wasn't able to advocate for myself)

So many people are put off and it's hardly surprising. There are so many who aren't claiming (as with many benefits) yet the rhetoric is always that it's 'unustainable' etc.

I’ve been looking into applying for PIP for my daughter. A friend of mine is an advisor and in his opinion, she’d definitely qualify.

However, when we rang to ask for the forms to be sent out, the person on the phone was such an absolute arsehole to her that she burst into tears and they hung up on her. She refuses to try again.

And then you see claims that they’re ‘handing out disability benefits like sweets’. It’s just bullshit.

I'd probably qualify for lower rate on one or both of the elements of PIP, but like you I can't face doing the forms. I'm currently on ESA, and having to deal with the reassessments for that always makes my mental health significantly worse. Last time I got a call from my GP surgery in the cab on the way home, asking me to come in, presumably because I'd sent up some safeguarding red flags in the interview. And yes, taking a cab was a necessity, as I literally could not have managed the journey on public transport, due to both my physical mobility and my mental health at that point.

Looking at the election results today, the Tories are done. Let's hope the letters of no confidence flood in & Rishi calls a General Election instead of being kicked out by his own party.

From that thread:

I have always thought there was a benefits cap of about £26k. I thought Osborne brought It in. It turns out if you have a child claiming DLA you are exempt. Even if the child is at school all day. You can claim as much as £3000 per month. I think this is all tax free money too.

And another one

Friend would rather stay on Benefits www.mumsnet.com/Talk/money-matters/5067183-friend-would-rather-stay-on-benefits

Spoon theory is gold for people like me and my family. www.thebraincharity.org.uk/whats-spoon-theory/

It helps us pace, manage and explain how our chronic illnesses/disabilities impact on certain things.

Oh, yes, I've seen a YouTube video years ago about this. Rings a bell now!

That's exactly it. I need to think is it worth potentially becoming suicidal just to get told that I'm imagining the impact on my life.

I could really do with the extra help. It's such a struggle trying to manage without it. But it's ridiculously difficult and long winded to get anywhere with it. I should just be able to say I'm struggling and get a letter from my GP/psychiatrist/rheumatologist to confirm it. That should be it. A court should be the absolute last point of recourse in an extreme minority of cases, not a routine occurrence.

People who want to make it incredibly hard to claim have already got their wish. Congratulations to them.

I think its "disabled people are actually people too"

The way some posters on here talk they clearly think disabled people are sub human

And tbh it's not the vitriolic posters which get to me, because it's usually obvious to most posters that they are idiots. It's the ones who make out they are so reasonable, and they want disabled people to be looked after but.....

And those buts go on for fucking ever until you realise they aren't reasonable at all, they aren't interested in the actual data or stats, they just want to keep pretending their points are reasonable and that they are nice, lovely people really to get those who don't need to think too much about these topics on their side

Thank you for starting the thread @IClaudine it's absolutely a big issue on here at the moment in particular

My mental health team were always trying to get me to apply for PIP.. but also said I would need to consider the effect on my MH of even doing so. It is brutal.

I never bothered. I can't even fill in the forms for council tax support (about 20 pages where I live), so I pay the full rate.

I strongly suspect MN will just blank this because it's easier for them.

The idea of people gaming the system to get PIP is laughable. I'm sure a sliver of people do, but I've no idea how.

I need PIP. I should be entitled to it as I struggle enough. I can't apply for it. I'm so frightened that I'll be humiliated, called a liar, or have to go to court (something I'm terrified of after experiencing a serious miscarriage of justice a few years ago), that I just can't get anywhere with it.

I managed to get the forms sent to me recently. They made me feel so sick to look at that I tucked them behind the shoe rack near the door.

Even thinking about it now, I'm on the verge of tears.

So how the fuck anyone thinks this should be made even harder for vulnerable people, I really don't know. I hate to wish ill on other people, but I really do hope something happens in their life to make them able to experience compassion.