Are ADHD benefit claims and work exemptions becoming too widespread?

[JoyousOpalLemur]

This was the top story on LBC this morning.

The number of people who get benefits for ADHD so they don't have to work has gone up by a staggering 40% in just the last two years.

The taxpayer now funds more than 100,000 people to not work because their ADHD makes work too difficult for them.

About 40% of them receive the top rate of daily living and motability allowance - £194 a week - and that's on top of several other benefits. Those who receive this do not have to look for work. This is now costing the taxpayer billions of pounds per year. Most of the beneficiaries are young people.

This is absolutely bonkers!

I know someone very well who receives these PIP payments for ADHD so she doesn't have to work. She's got a lovely flat in London that most people her age couldn't afford.

Her main argument is that her ADHD means she can't work, because it's "literally impossible" for her to follow time and transport rules - which means she never turns up on time at appointments, and often will call about two hours later saying she thought the appointment was a different time, and she's got lost finding it and is nowhere near.

That is true - she does do that a lot. However, she also goes on holiday several times a year. And I've never known her to once fail to make the holiday. Her track record of getting to the airport at the right time appears to be 100%!

This isn't party political - the Tories started this, Labour have made it much worse and Reform will almost certainly mess up trying to sort it out. And I'm not saying ADHD isn't real.

But this is clearly nuts, terrible for an economy and totally unsustainable.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/adhd-pip-claims-no-work-requirement-100000-9qlcpsqws

Of course it's a good thing that they can still make a UC claim. I can't imagine how much more difficult it must be though knowing UC's expectations.

I'm glad the vast majority of people claiming UC can simply access it on their smart phones.

You have completely missed the point. Don’t worry about it.

There are many claiments that can’t make a telephone call and require a smartphone to access the relay services.

No.

I just chose to ignore the tired joke.

Good for you. Have a gold star

They probably can, but if you have work search requirements, you are going to struggle as you have regular messages in your journal.
If I have a message, I get a text telling me to log into my journal. I don't know if there is a way you can ring them and ask what the message said.

Yes, that’s exactly what it is.

The claimant rings the helpline and they tell him what the message is.

That seems like a pain but it is good that is an option.
But like a PP said, you need internet to apply for jobs nowadays. The vast majority of people have smartphones now.

And to get back on track, the folks I know with ADHD rely heavily on their smartphones for alarms, apps etc. Oh, and the doom scrolling 😆

Which is no different to anyone else

Yep that is true. We all rely on them now. And there are people who do not have one etc but they rely on the people close to them to have one to be able to access things. They are essential now (and don't get me started on how you need a smartphone to be able to park in some places).

Any idea how long you need to wait?

I know that, to speak to someone fur PIP, it takes about 1 hour wait before you have someone on the line….
Im not sure you can call that a like fir like replacement iyswim

No, I don’t know how long you have to wait.

As I already said above, I don’t have a claim for UC and I don’t work for DWP.

I’m surprised at the negativity about my post.

It’s a service they provide for those who can’t or won’t use a smart phone, there is nothing wrong with it.

I have an inking into who it is.
Fucking sad to make the effort to do it anyway.

Yes it is pathetic!

Hope you've made MN aware.

xx

My point is that it’s not an easy solution for the person in the other side.
Yes it is good but is it good enpugh? Nope.

And it’s not about having a go at you as such.
But if, by your own admission you know nothing and haven’t experienced it, then don’t come saying there is a great solution when it isn’t one.

The negativity is because the whole system is shit.
Even the Timmy’s review acknowledges it!

I never said I know nothing about the system.

In fact, it seems I know more about some aspects than many posters here.

Is it shit? No, it provides support to millions of claimants.

Not to mention hospital appointments, L test results etc