1,000 new PIP claims per day?

[flashbac]

Is this true? (From someone who is naturally cynical of government info.)

If it is, is there something else behind the statistic? Is it because people have to reapply or something like that?

This is from the government website:

"Monthly PIP awards have more than doubled since the pandemic, rising from 13,000 to 34,000 - a rate of around 1,000 new claims per day, or the population of Leicester every year."

I find the statistic unbelievable.

Some of the awards will be for those transferring from DLA to PIP. Some awards will be to people claiming under the special rules. What is never mentioned is that a massive percentage of PIP claims are disallowed. (Which shows @UncharteredWaters doesn't know what they are talking about).

Create a society which pushes humans to their limits then sit by in shock when they react to it in a wholly predictable way.

Decades of government decisions are reaping what they sow, then they blame the very people most hurt by those decisions and use propaganda to get other people on board to demonise those harmed people.

Unless politics and governing changes we are all set for more inequality and more people unable to cope.

Also the constant talk on the news about PIP will lead to it being more well known and more claimants as people realise they could be entitled.

That's also the case for pension credit since it was talked about in connection with the winter fuel payment. More people have claimed that as well.

The issues with public transport tend to be around being unable to cope with change (eg the service us delayed or cancelled and they can't plan what to do now) or sensory.

In terms of not being able to work and study. Again, it may be that some degree educated autistic individuals don't work as university and work are very different. But there will be many who can cope with one at a time just not both together.

I agree, but I also think the govt should be doing more to encourage everyone (disabled and otherwise) into self employment, starting small businesses, etc. At the moment, there are "barriers" especially the benefit system, but also the red tape, legalities, bureaucracy, complicated tax systems, etc. Self employment would be an ideal option for lots of disabled people.

I have lots of disabled clients in my small accountancy practice - typically professional/consultant type roles, but also ebayers, home craft making, social media influencers, etc.

One guy runs a company formation, registered office, mailing address, telephone answering service from home and he is severely disabled in a wheel chair, but has grown a home based business from nothing to one with a turnover of several hundred thousand from a home office starting with a laptop.

Another was a married couple. She was a SAHM whilst the kids were pre primary age, but he, the major wage earner, suffered a major stroke and had to give up work. Out of desperation, they started an ebay business selling hobby/craft items which really took off, and led to them setting up their own e-commerce site, which they eventually sold after several years for a few million! She was the "front of house" person on social media, dealing with customer service, etc., and he (despite being able to leave the house alone and not being able to talk easier) did all the "back room" stuff, such as the web design, stock ordering, etc.

As I say, there needs to be more help and support for people starting self employment or small businesses, rather than them being regarded as cash cows or penalised by councils etc.

I claim PIP for a “non-physical” impairment. I also work full time. Initially I was part time and PIP alllowed me to do that. Why should disabled people be penalised because they can’t work full time? It isn’t a choice. I now use it for therapies and things that help me stay well.

Lots of studies have shown that being disabled means life can cost as least 25% more. Taxis if you can’t drive (a relative with epilepsy). Public transport has been decimated where I live. It would be almost impossible to try and rely on buses and trains for most things.

My autistic dc- clothes often cost more as I have to buy specific things that fit sensory needs. I have paid for private therapy as the waiting list for CAMHS where I live is 10 years! Replacing things that have been chewed, or broken in meltdowns.

I’ve just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and currently cannot work due to pain/restricted movement although I’m hoping to be able to go back to work when this can be managed better (not in receipt of any benefits, application in progress but not expecting anything due to husband’s income). So far three different people, when I told them of my diagnosis, have told me to get my “pip” claim in and are surprised when I’ve said I don’t feel I need it. The general attitude seems to be it’s available and “everyone else” claims it so why don’t I and just tell them XYZ followed by instructions to “get around the system” and claim it. It’s been a real eye opener. I thought you had to have proof of how it’s spent to show the DWP, and if not, why not?? Am I confused with another benefit available?

One family I know (friend’s adult child and spouse) are both PIP claimants and use the PIP part of their claim to pay their mortgage and have admitted they will lose thier house if/when PIP stops. I obviously don’t want anyone to lose their house but surely how payments are used could be audited better?

How can the system be overhauled without causing financial hardship and harm to those who really need it to help with day to day activities?

Hope makes sense, groggy with meds.

I agree with this, there's also definitely a shift from learning resilience and building up skills in order to manage, to people being told they basically shouldn't have to and to claim pip etc and that's a lot to do with social media imo. When it comes to mental health, I think it makes peoples mental health worse a lot of the time it's a kind of learned helplessness almost. I think people have lost sight of what serious mental health difficulties look like- I hear a lot the phrase "high functioning depression" "high functioning anxiety" this doesn't even make sense to me as the very criteria for clinical depression would mean that you absolutely are not highly functioning at much at all...
Being neurodivergent makes things harder and that's shit but it's just life, pip isn't going to help that in a lot of cases.

of course mental health services need a lot more funding and that would also help.

With some knowledge of the area I think there are lots of issues. More people apply as the low payments and difficulties getting unemployment benefits means it is better to make applications for PIP.
The assessment process was online for sometime during the pandemic and rates of award and appeal success much higher when you can’t assess F2F
I know of assessors told to just make the award and give the claimants the benefit of the doubt, it was seen as equitable given furlough for employees. Once on a benefit it is quite hard to remove.
Medical conditions and mental health worsened further during the pandemic, the longer you are out of work the harder it is to get a job and it is always harder to remove PIP than it is to award it.
I think there is a problem with mental health ( and to a degree neurodiversity) becoming a bigger proportion. The Govt suggestion that front loading money into trying to get people to work at early stage is the right one and the Equality Act puts duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments.
I did medical assessments for the old incapacity benefits, it has always been reductive to try to categorise people’s abilities by numbers/ percentages. This was worsened by private providers working to dubious targets with high rates of complaint making it more likely assessors to make awards. The high rate of appeal success has also followed on from this.
however I am amazed at the number of young people in my adult children’s radar on PIP due to some sort of MH condition and the coaching/ advice given by people on how to succeed in claims
I think the idea that new claimants new rules is worse of both worlds, potentially depriving those who need it in the future whilst ensuring those who arguably should not it now keep it

Public transport can be very difficult for some autistic people. It's unpredictable. Transport can be late, unknown people on transport, unpredictable social interactions. sensory difficulties due to noises, smells etc can be difficult to manage.

It may be the travel in isolation is doable for some but the stress it causes may mean they are unable to work once they get off public transport due to the travel. If maybe after working all day they can't cope with a busy commute.

It's going to be different for different people.

Holding a job down at uni may mean they can't focus on studies. After uni they won't have to study while working.

Thankfully you don't need to prove what it's spent on. If we do that for pip you do it for all benefits

Some of us have enough disability admin. I don't fancy adding to mine by having to prove what my pip goes on

however I am amazed at the number of young people in my adult children’s radar on PIP due to some sort of MH condition and the coaching/ advice given by people on how to succeed in claims

Well the IA shows that the people most adversely affected by the changes will be those with physical disabilities. So your amazement will continue.

PIP isn't an out of work benefit, so make sure you are aware of the rules around new style ESA as that would be the benefit you could claim if you cannot work. The contributions based NS-ESA is based on your contributions so wouldn't be impacted by your husbands income.

No benefits require proof of spending to the DWP. How would that even be possible?
We get DLA for my DD. Sometimes it's used for incontinence products, sometimes for Physio, sometimes for parking at appointments, sometimes for events, sometimes for a babysitter, sometimes it's for food and sometimes it's just a contribution to the extra heating/electricity bills in our home.

Once again with feeling, PIP is a non means-tested benefit. You can receive PIP and work full time so, whatever you think, PIP is not stopping your ex from getting a job.
I'm not sure why so many people seem unable to comprehend this simple fact. PIP is awarded to qualifying claimants to help with the extra costs of living with a disability. The adaptations, equipment and treatment which PIP allows us to pay for actually allows many of us to access work. Hope this helps.

My doctor has suggested applying for PIP three times in my life. I just ignored them.

The third time, I said "that's ridiculous and I don't need it and I wouldn't get it". And he said "I think you do need it and I think you would get it."

If doctors are doing a good job explaining entitlements, that's not a bad thing. But I can see the problems with sustainability in the figures.

I haven't ever actually seen a form, so I don't know what they're like. It didn't really occur to me to look because I feel very strongly that benefits should be for people who need them. And I felt strongly that I did not need them.

@ARichtGoodDram I don't understand why you say it's not possible to provide receipts.

You will be horrified to learn that we sometimes use my DH's PIP to pay towards holidays, which are extra expensive if you are a wheelchair user. You can't just rock up to a cheap Air b'n b.

With respect, I think you're missing the point of the post you've quoted. The issue in the post is that, because the claimant has PIP coming in, he's not motivated to get back to work - he doesn't need to, because of the PIP income. Yes, according to the rules, he could work and receive PIP, but because he's receiving PIP, he's assessed for himself that he doesn't need to work, and there's no driver to push him into work now he's made that decision.

That's the problem here, if someone is able to work, they shouldn't not be working because they've decided to live on PIP alone.

No one can live on PIP alone. It is not enough.

ETA: Highest rates of PIP = £9,747.40 per annum.

It’s actually really hard to get PIP for mental health conditions. I receive it currently. I have autism and mental health issues, the most troubling being PTSD from CSA and then an abusive marriage. I cannot leave my home alone, my DH has had to reduce his hours at work in order to look after me.

What I’ve noticed through local acquaintances is people now going to the fibromyalgia route. A woman I know initially claimed poor mental health and now claims severe body pain at all times but recently did a 26 mile hike to raise money for her daughter’s dance troupe. I imagine “evidence” is a lot easier to gather for something which is a catch all diagnosis when someone’s been found clear of everything else. I’m not denying it’s a real condition, just that it’s easier to fake.

You can’t get PIP without significant evidence. A note from the GP saying you have anxiety won’t cut it. Generally you need to be under consultant care for MH which is very hard to access even when needed.

Thing is, PIP is not an out of work benefit. I'm not understanding why it's repeatedly being linked to 'getting people back to work'.

Because they have swallowed the government and media rhetoric whole and are not bothering to check the reality.

That's going to depend on lifestyle though. Obviously I don't know the details of the person's life from the OP, but if they are living rent free, have a partner who is working or claiming additional income-related benefits, then they might be happy with £70 a week (though the poster mentioned their PIP had decreased recently, so I'll assume that they were getting a higher rate).

Thing is, PIP is not an out of work benefit. I'm not understanding why it's repeatedly being linked to 'getting people back to work'.

Causing that confusion is something that this government, and the last, is really good it.
100% deliberate.

Media and government manipulation is common knowledge now though. It justs makes people look thick.

Because it's extra money that would make being unemployed on universal credit a bit more do-able, along with limited capacity for work element of UC.
i do think it's somewhat rare that people fully chose to live like this though