7.4 million people claim some form of disability or incapacity benefits

[MidnightPatrol]

Given the various back and forth of discussion on the reduction in disability and incapacity benefits, not much data on the debate has been shared - it’s a mainly emotional debate.

So for context, the figures:

• 7.4 million people claim sickness benefits of some kind
• The total number of claimants has increased by a third in five years (up 1.8 million)
• 1 in 10 working age adults claims, and 1 in 12 school aged children
• 1.2 million people aged under 25 claim sickness benefits, a rise of two thirds in 5 years - 1 in 15 claiming something
• 4 million adults claim sickness benefit of some kind, up from 2.8 million in 2019. Two thirds of that increase is people under 50.
• 2.5 million people claim UC health benefits, up 500k people this year alone - in 2019 less than 500k people claimed this
• 1.8 million have no requirement to look for work
• Sickness benefits for working age adults are expected to cost £70b by 2030 - a third of the cost of the NHS

The country is in a sorry state because an ever increasing group of people are abusing their health and their minds and swallowing up our public funds with their various ‘needs’. Very disabled people should receive benefits. I am happy to contribute to that. But what I see now are people who eat rubbish, game all day, vape, hardly see the light of day and say they need to taxpayer to prop them up as they’re either depressed or anxious. In turn they then feed their kids rubbish and coop them up on games consoles, before seeking other diagnoses for the children and yet more benefits.

Everything has become MH driven yet people can claim benefits while doing things that actively damage their MH.

The Tory government have become a convenient stooge for people to absolute themselves of any personal responsibility.

Exactly. I don’t actually believe that this child gets no support at school.

you can’t get an ADHD diagnosis anyway unless the school agrees because it’s a condition which tends to be very obvious at school.

Not even sure why people are bitching about child DLA because that won’t be touched.

It’s LCWRA and changing criteria for PIP (apparently).

There is so so much misinformation and just utter bollocks on this thread. Lots of people who don’t even have a disabled child or any experience of claiming DLA.. ‘well my friend said’ ‘I know someone who persuaded drs to diagnose their child’ bla bla bla.

We were advised how to fill the form
to qualify. We didn’t. There are of course extra costs associated with his ADHD and it’s frankly exhausting as a parent but he will be ok and I would never dream of claiming for it. Seriously it should only be a proper safety net

You need more evidence than just 1 community paediatrician. School will obviously see them more for a start and there's part of the form which is all about school including writing their contact details.

But from what you said he wouldn't meet the criteria anyway so dont worry about it.

They are told to apply. We know of a boy in my sons class that was diagnosed and the father told us with delight they we’re getting money for him. To them it was just extra easy income…

Theres plenty online telling people how to game the system !
Nothing new here I’m afraid !

I’m guessing that’s why Labour are looking at cracking down on mh conditions especially…..

Exactly.

DLA 'just getting approved'.

If only. 😂

I understand how the process works - and they don't always contact the school.

Just go on believing it's difficult to get, and that no one takes that piss, or that private clinical psychologists will not write whatever as long as they get paid....

Some people take the mickey...that's a fact

Children have a right to an education but not the best education money can buy, which fulfils their every want.

EHCPs aren’t about wants or the best possible education. Case law is explicitly clear on that. It is about what is legally reasonably required and necessary.

Something must be done. There should be a job for everyone, even those who can't or don't want to leave the house. Far too many claiming and not paying taxes. Appreciate there are some in the original figures in work.
It is not right where people who do work are worse off. Solve that and we go some way to solving the problem.

Tbh

It really doesn’t matter how difficult others are claiming it is or not
Its all costing too much

Hence the crackdown

Yup. Agree fully with this! For example, laying in bed all day is going to make you feel depressed and ruin your physical and mental health. It's a vicious cycle.

There are too many "i can't do" and the PIP process focuses on what they "can't do" rather than explore any strengths and go from there whether it's voluntary work or paid work. With more work from home jobs available I'm confused why more people are claiming they can't work.

You clearly don't based on your previous comments. You seemed to think a diagnosis was needed initially and what is this phone call you were talking about?

If part of the form includes that they get extra help at school then they will expect evidence from school to back that up.

Well clearly you don't by your previous posts.

They aren't cracking down on DLA.

Not yet anyway.

it is not easy to just get a job like that, where are these employers who will take on someone who has no references, has not worked in years and has limited abilities?

Agree

Its worrying that people are advised

’how to fill out the form to qualify’

surely it should be
advised which form to use. Be truthful etc

I could do an office typing type part time job, I am qualified and have experience no references

"But - kindly" aka not kind. You are actually saying,

"just listen why don't you, we need to make cuts and the most vulnerable in society are the easiest targets because they DO NOT have friends in positions of power!"

Are you a government mouthpiece? @MidnightPatrol

Yes, government is bloated, but if there was competence, instead of all these PPE grads running the country, who are definitely not performing for the majority of the proletariat.

Where is the ingenuity to address the hard decisions? Certainly NOT from ANY of todays politicians, neither Starmer nor the Torys.

They all choose to penalise the most vulnerable in society and not their damn buddies, because it's easier!!

Shame on all of them.

I'm on various DLA Facebook groups and.yes people get advice from these groups and some people do put in claims for very tenuous reasons, thst doesn't meant they will get an award though.

I’m referring generally to mental health, disabilities etc as per the thread title

Most of the welfare bill seems to be up for reform with protections and incentives for those that work.

The welfare bill is all too expensive

I got advice from a DLA Facebook group too.

The form is huge and overwhelming. My son was still seriously ill in hospital when I started to fill it out.

People need advice because it is such a difficult, complicated form.

How did this mum get DLA without this child’s school being contacted? Because that doesn’t happen.

Schools are not always contacted.

No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.

And the ‘kindly’ was to acknowledge the poster had a difficult situation with their child, which I was not dismissing.

IMO this is the government addressing the hard decisions - the number of claimants has risen dramatically, and the government is trying to find a solution to make it affordable.

It’s not workable to just keep Increasing the tax burden, without challenging the spending too.