Family member awarded enhanced pip - AIBU?

[Orangecrocs]

My family member has just been awarded enhanced pip in both living and mobility components.
Shes told me that she’s twisted the truth during the assessment and told the assessor that she has lots of pain and can’t really walk at all, but she walks all the time as I see her out and about - we live in a hilly area. I know people who are in a wheelchair and struggle to get enhanced rate - so I really don’t understand how she’s managed this.
I know people will say mind your own business but she’s told me she’s actually lied to them.

Tbh it’s a pittance as are most benefits. You’d be better off getting a low pressure admin type job that you can do from home if you’re into getting money for doing not very much.

Everyone's got a story of someone who's fiddling haven't they🙄

Some people could do with minding their business when they aren't in full possession of the facts and even more likely have no direct experience of people living full time with their disabilities.

Utterly reprehensible - it’s fraud.

There are deserving cases missing support because of people like this.

All I will say is that there is scriptwhich these type of threads follow. New or name changed poster. Friend or relative who openly boasts about claiming benefits fraudulently.

It would be highly unusual for someone to get PIP without providing medical information.

They won't ask your Gp for details and a lack of medical back up is one of the most common reasons for them to say no. An appeal tribunal will ask your GP for info.

Are you sure your relative isn't just downplaying it? My DD often describes her narcolepsy as "I fall asleep every now and again..." when in reality it's a horrid condition that affects every part of her life, but she doesn't like discussing it.

What do you mean?

The individual has allegedly committed fraud. Are you OK with that?

No. Those who are missing support is because the system is stacked against them. The PIP process is unpleasant and unfair.

I agree that many people who should get it are probably rejected and that the majority of people who do have it should have it.

but I also know someone who has lied to get it. Her mum lives in the house she owns and she told them that she still lives there (bills are in her name) and that her mum has to prep her food , dress her, etc. but in reality she moved out for work and rents in a different city and lives on her own.

She offered to help me get PIP, I have a medical condition which for some people might mean they’re affected enough to deserve it. Where as I am on the lower end of the spectrum, and am perfectly mobile and independent which she knows. but she told me to big my symptoms up to the gp for six months and then she’d help me fill the form out. I obviously declined.

Oh damn. Just realised who I replied to. I am off.

How do you know? The dwp sent my daughter's GP a form which they had to fill in and send back. There was no need to involve my daughter- I only know about it because my daughter was turned down and when we appealed and asked for all the paperwork, we found out about the form.

I would also add that pip isn't just about physically being able to walk. My daughter can walk fine but she has epilepsy and a learning disability so she isn't able to go out on her own. My nephews get it and they have autism.

As if we don’t have enough of that already

It might not be much but it’s free money and you still get it even if you’re wealthy, paid NMW or somewhere in between. So in your example they would be better off by choosing to work and fraudulently claiming. It happens.

I know I’ll get lots of hate for what I’m saying and that I must hate disabled people. I don’t. I really, really don’t. I believe in a welfare system. I vote Labour. I believe genuinely disabled people should be fully supported. But I also know that there is PIP fraud and that needs to be addressed.

Lol.

She is a chancer. The whole PIP thing is totally absurd and needs to be completely overhauled.

You do know that the criteria is being able to do something reliably and repeatedly, not just as a one off?

If the doctor has not been asked for evidence, she must have sent some in herself, they don't give it out without it

So why does DWP estimate PIP fraud to be so low that it is recorded as 0%?

But it’s not means tested….you can work a still get pip….enhanced is about 750 every 4 weeks so not really a pitttance ….if you don’t work you are getting your UC on top of this

Ciao.

It is hugely difficult to get PIP. The idea you turn up and say you can't walk and they give it to you is laughable.

Not sure about this. Most claims require medical evidence from some sort of medics. 🤷‍♀️

She's making it harder for people who deserve the pip. I'd report her.

Because you can’t prove someone is exaggerating their symptoms unless they admit it.

You can exaggerate how much pain you’re in or you can exaggerate how much your mental health affects your life, but you’re not going to admit that you’re lying to the DWP are you? Hence zero fraud. People do admit they’re lying to others though, which is why some people know other people who are claiming under false pretences. Just like OP. And me. And other PPs.

Solid answer.

Have you ever been present at a PIP assessment?