Taxes to rise to fund PIP

[Viviennemary]

I just read this, Don't agree with this at all. PIP needs to be reformed. But not by introducing this two tier system. Sick of Labour already. Might have know they would revert to type. With all the infighting and disagreement so nothing ever gets done except back peddling, increased taxes and prices rises.

I paid about £500 tax this month, I don't earn a fortune, i'm struggling to make ends meet, I have diabetes and osteoarthritis among other things and struggle with walking some days due to one of these conditions, I don't qualify for help with anything, pay my own prescriptions, have to park sometimes miles away from a shop and hobble across the car park.

I have no problem with people claiming PIP and benefits when they genuinely qualify. But there are a lot of people out there who get PIP and benefits that could be working and just know how to milk the system - I know quite a few of these people, and they boast about the brand new car they have, their disability badge, and other stuff.

That’s another part of this. It’s either needed or not.

It’s very hard to ascertain fraud on a benefit such as this without having spies everywhere.
No one can prove a persons inability to chop up veg or whether you can wash your upper half independently without cameras in the home.
We don’t do that
So hmrc can’t ask for or get proof.

Pensioners pay less tax than workers, as they don’t pay NI

But they do ask for proof. You wouldn't get pip without piles of medical evidence explaining why you can't do these things. Also chopping up veg isnt a criteria. If you can put a ready meal in a microwave you can cook according to dwp

This. The government has got away with largely blaming the increase in PIP for MH conditions, and highlighting anxiety and depression as an example. But if you look at the PIP descriptors for MH the bar is set incredibly high. First line GP treated anxiety and depression doesn’t get you a PIP claim. A stand alone claim on MH grounds requires second line consultant led MH team input, and the condition has to be so overwhelming as to h ave a severe impact on daily life. This isn’t reflected in government rhetoric - and yet it works because in general the great British public aren’t interested in what happens with disability benefits at an individual level, unless they’re affected.

I understand Farages idea of the one off payment. I do not agree with just handing lump sums out to people.
That’s a classic Brexit bus headliner to get votes and nothing more!

The money should go straight to the nhs and education

The benefits system needs reform urgently. I was pleased Labour (who have some humanity) were going to tackle it. But now they’ve backed down.
more people need to work.

I can't pay anymore tax.... literally can't. I know I won't get much sympathy but being in the 60% tax bracket is fucking painful.

They could save money but stopping reviewing people with life long issues with zero chance of improvement. Even if it’s every 10 years it’s unnecessary. You aren’t going to improve if you have been mentally disabled since birth or totally blind.
They’d save some administrative costs right there.

That’s a classic Brexit bus headliner to get votes and nothing more!

yep

And yet my colleagues at work include several who are eligible for PIP. We have about 4% physical (visible) disabled. Several of our sales team have long term disabilities.

So it is possible.

Who else can pay? Workers have always been the cash cow to subsidise the many who choose not to contribute by not working.

Because they’re not employed any more and have paid the maximum contributions towards state pension at the time they retired. And benefit claimants are tax payers too in many cases.

PIP is an in work benefit.

Not proof though.
You are asked if you can do certain activities and trusted to answer in good faith.
People don’t.
Interviewers and doctors do not ask you to demonstrate. They have to trust you.

Many benefit claimants are tax payers. A fact conveniently forgotten on MN.

Fortunately you won’t have any influence 👍

But how many other people have to pay in to cover the cost of your sister's immediate 'cash' benefits.

Ignoring the fact everyone involved all uses the NHS/Schools etc which also has a huge cost.

It's not that simple.

We either pay more tax (and some people would argue they are paying more than enough tax already) or we spend less.

...because they have already paid the 35 years contributions required by the govt.

I'm in favour of the govt raising that to 40 or 45 years.

Most people start work either at 18 or at 21 so most complete 45 years before retiring. It would be an easy win.

'the country cannot afford everything we’re spending on disability, it’s completely out of control, but Labour won’t tackle it'

Did Conservatives do anything about it in the 14 years they had!

Labour tried to cut back on it but the right wing press was all over it just like the OAP pension

Conservatives screwed the NHS did nothing about immigration, left the economy in a poor state - but you lot will continue to vote for them (or Farage and whatever party he in at the time) come what may.

These have only started to come around in the last few years as the first PIP ten year awards are due for review.

As a decision maker, I would read the form and if it was evident that nothing had changed, extend the award again for another ten years. It would take up less than an hour of my time to sort out.

It is not ridiculous for the state to do a light touch check in on the award every ten years if they’re going to pay out tens of thousands of pounds.

The administration cost saving would be tiny.

But you would still need a valid reason. If you tell the dwp you can't walk they will want to know why and have medical evidence to back it. Their not just going to be oh ok fair enough here's £29.20 week

I’m a PIP assessor. Thanks for reminding people about this.

I have no problem with people claiming PIP but I am sick of this line being trotted out. Yes it can be an in work benefit but for the vast vast majority it is not. Only 17% of people who claim PIP are in work. I'm not saying they shouldn't get it but the in work benefit line is really starting to grate on me - the BBC constantly stick it into every conversation about PIP.