I get UC and PIP AMA

[DucksInABow]

After seeing several threads today regarding people on benefits, how they are living the high life and are better off not working etc, I thought I’d do an AMA

I get UC, formerly got ESA and prior to that incapacity benefit. I’m classed as having limited capacity for work/work related activity,

Receive PIP, and prior to the introduction of PIP got DLA

To be clear, I can only talk about my personal experience/circumstances, not anyone else’s, and yes, there absolutely ARE people who claim things they shouldn’t, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as many as MN believes, nor do I think it’s ‘easy’ to get benefits like PIP.

I have NC’d but I will answer ANYTHING honestly.

How old were you when became unable to work or was it from congenital/childhood disability. My dsd will never work so i certainly understand the need for whole lifetime support but alas she isn’t eloquent like you, she can’t read, write or talk beyond set phrases.

Do you work?

Chocolate or cheese?

How much do you get in total per month from your benefits?

Do you work? If so what do you do within your limited capacity?

What hours do you work?

@gogomomo2

DLA was claimed for me as a child so I’m not 100% on the age, but I became aware of it at 16, and it changed to PIP when I was 30.

i was also 16 when I was put on incapacity benefit.
I did take myself off it when I was 25 as I wanted to try and work but after a year and a half on JSA I was advised by the disability advisor at the job centre to claim ESA so I did, and that recently changed to UC.

@GreenFrogYellow No, I have never done any paid work. I did briefly volunteer when younger

@BuffetTheDietSlayer Cheese, always cheese

@Mrsnothingthanks

£1700 per month, including an element for my rent.

What is the reason you can’t work ( please ignore of you don’t want to say ) ?

@Makingpeace

I don’t work at all,
I’ve always found the way the events of uc are labeled to be confusing

limited capacity for work means you can do some work

limited capacity for work and work related activity means you are viewed as unable to work

@Carriemac

There are several factors.

i am blind, and have been from birth
To preempt the next question, i use voiceover to read text to me on my phone/computer.

Of course blindness doesn’t automatically mean you can’t work, but when it was incapacity benefit it was generally accepted that blind = incapable.

I also have depression, anxiety, PTSD (from childhood trauma) ADHD (late diagnosed)
And a hip displacement

My mental health inhibits me far more than my eyesight ever has,

Thanks for this thread, @DucksInABow it’s good to have some visible clarity on this.
I’m a lower level PIP claimant and can confirm that it was jolly hard to qualify for it! I suspect the higher level is weirdly easier to access, on the basis that it should be obvious that the claimant requires it. I have complex, chronic, invisible conditions and as a result can present as “normal”, which can be confusing for those who interact with me - as ever with this things, nobody sees me on a bad day as I simply cancel everything and don’t go out of the house.

I hope you’re able to help clear up some of the myths around these “benefits” (in inverted commas because they are the only effin benefit to the cards we’ve been dealt!)
Best wishes.

@Carriemac
As a working person who is fortunate enough to be blessed with good health and the ability to go out to earn a living, I am absolutely happy to do my bit to contribute to people such as yourself 💐

I don’t think you mean me, I’m also a full time working person .

How big is the yacht you own thanks to PIP?

Seriously though, good on you for starting this thread. Unfortunatly I think some posters on MN don't care about the realities.

@TicklishReader oh I have 2 yachts, never hurts to have a spare!

@Carriemac Apologies, I meant the OP - @DucksInABow 😀

Haha, I'm coming aboard! ⚓🍹

How much is your rent element? Do you have enough to live on after rent is paid? Do you have enough to cover the costs of living with the disabilities?

Do you eat a lot of steak?

@GovernmentFundedSteak
I’m vegan but I’m partial to a cauliflower steak if I get the chance

@GladImhereVladimir
My rent is £550 so that’s my housing element of uc

For the most part I have enough to live on, it can be tough if I get an unexpected expense like when my washer broke but I do what I can to reduce the risks such as having appliance insurance etc

My disabilities thankfully aren’t too costly compared to others in that I don’t require a lot of specialist care or equipment although there are things I do pay a little extra for, for example my microwave and air fryer can talk, but cost more than non audible alternatives

The general cost of living is far harder, as it is for everyone, the only difference being that others have the potential to increase their income if they can and I don’t

Do you have a guide dog? I read Emma (about a guide dog not Jane Austin’s work!) when I was 14, and have been supporter of Guide dogs since then. I more recently read Kika and me, and although beautiful written, some parts were heart breaking.

Glad you're not in the dire straits some disabled people find themselves in but it's still quite a small amount if there are emergency expenses as you say. Have you found this amount to be relatively stable or has it gone up or down over time? I'm disabled myself and don't get enough to live on so have to be subsidised by family. I'm very grateful to have them but horrified the system would essentially make me choose between eating and meds etc without my family. From what I understand, I may have got more at one point given the various rule changes and tightening up of criteria but it's hard to know for sure.

Do you feel judge by people in real life?