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 number of people claiming PIP who can apparently date, have kids, go on holiday, look after their house, do the school run and go to the gym but ‘can’t work’ is a piss take

PIP is not an out of work benefit. Are disabled people not allowed to date, have kids, go on holiday etc?
I know people with very physical disabilities (who claim PIP) who have have met partners, had kids, and have a life. I think they are fucking amazing. PIP has enabled them to have a life.

80% who claim are unemployed

I have known people who haven't worked since the 90s due to bipolar or schizophrenia. I don't see how this (Alison) is any different. It's all debilitating severe mental illness, OCD, agorophobia and CPTSD can be as crippling as any psychosis and often is continuous with no in between gaps, no remissions. There are treatments but they are expensive, someone who is on able to claim benefits has to have under a certain amount of savings, so we are talking about relatively low income people here.

I sometimes think people see or words like anxiety and depression and assume that these are mild illnesses for everyone who experiences them. No, for some they are disabling. People say "oh mental illness is the new bad back" but a herniated disc is light years away from someone with a bit of lumbago now and then. it

There is a good reason why PIP is decided on severity of symptoms not diagnosis alone.

That said of the when there has been decades of moderate to severe MI or personality disorders, someone may be able to work in some capacity but they may have lost confidence to do so and many managers may not have the patience to deal with someone who may need extra reassurance and consideration..or time off to attend therapy sessions. When you add childhood trauma into the mix and already having a sense of feeling unsafe or unable to trust people, or feel confident, then it's magnified 100x. It really feels like the odds are overwhelming. Sometimes it may not be as straightforward as being too unwell to work at all. I got fired from a helping disabled people back to work course because of my mental illness. Took one meltdown and I was sacked. Without support I can't work at all.

Are disabled people not allowed to date, have kids, go on holiday etc?

Anyone who says they can’t work but can do all of the above is taking the piss, and I stand by that.

So? Are unemployed people not allowed to have a partner, or kids?
Anyone at any time can find themselves disabled and not able to work.

They shouldn’t be able to have kids while unemployed. Unfair to everyone involved.

I’m talking about unemployment not disability per se.

"So let’s assume it was none"

When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.

@indigovapour this is absolutely not how proactive I am tbf.

Your point is not valid in this, particular, instance.

How would you stop that?

@Itsalljustinmyhead but I wonder how many of those 80% are pisstakers (I'm not denying some are) or are people who are having difficulty getting or staying employed because many workplaces are not disability friendly and often the support needed to take steps back I to work isn't there. Then there are those whose health issues means they need part time or WFH but there aren't enough of those kinds of jobs available.

I get her point. If you are too sick or too scared to leave your house to try to find work how can you be ok to leave your home and well enough to go out dating and holidays. Surely the same sickness and anxiety and acrophobia is there be it work or a date.

If it’s not then that shows there are ways to work towards and overcome which should be considered a huge stepping stone to help you in recovery frankly.

UNBELIEVABLE!! omg

Why? If you can’t pay using your own money to put a roof over your head, then you’re in no place to have kids are you? It’s not fair to them. Kids aren’t a human right.

When I have had assessments for benefits, I was never asked about relationships, dating or holidays.
Being in a relationship does not mean someone can work. Going on holiday does not mean someone can work.

Let’s hope DWP disagree following the reforms. Because this is frankly laughable. Were we born yesterday?

Still waiting...

What an odd way to think. So someone who can do those things should all be working? Should some disabled people not have any life whatsoever then, just because they may not be working?

Surely that depends on your disability. If your too sick to leave the house or your anxiety stops you leaving the house dating and holidays should be just as impossible as working.

Where as having no hands for example would mean a whole lot of jobs would be impossible but going out perfectly fine.

My partner just told me he spoke to a lady today who is worried about tomorrow they are going to cut the PIP. Don't get angry on the thread talk to Sir Kier or Rachel Reeves.

I’ll engage, would you mind reposting? I’m always happy to talk figures.

You can wait all You want. Fact is the benefits bill alone for everything cannot be allowed to continue to grow. It’s not an unlimited fund.

Not for mental health reasons, no. If you have a learning disability or an obvious physical disability that’s different. But I don’t believe somebody is ‘too anxious to work’ if they’re not too anxious to do school runs, date, go on holiday and to the pub. Anyone who believes they can be is very gullible indeed.

People can and do have relationships without leaving the house. Long distance ones are a thing. I know some disabled couples who met online.

It is very disturbing to see people here say that anyone unable to work is therefore unable to date, have kids etc. It is a vile way to see disabled people. But I expect nothing more from that poster (I recognise them... again).

You can have mental health issues that are not anxiety.

I think it’s the growth and speed of growth that posters just aren’t getting when they talk about a wealth tax.

We can’t just keep being inventive with tax, because the numbers we’re talking about are far too high to be sustained by increased tax. A wealth tax might provide some relief for now - but do we just do one every year? And increase the rate? Not to mention the rate people are dropping out of the workforce to claim means those ‘big businesses’ and millionaires won’t have any employees to generate that money.

It’s delusion.