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.

And I think you’ll find that the groups on social media are mostly dedicated to advising on how to make the best claim you can -not how to claim if you’re not disabled.

I think you'll find that I wasn't talking about the groups that help actual disabled people, but the groups that DO exist, that advise people on what to say to claim PIP when there's nothing wrong with them, to "Do their bit" in "screwing over" the government.

Funny how the majority of people on this thread aren't disabled, and at the same time aren't listening to what disabled people are saying.

We know there is PIP fraud. We know better than anyone else the criteria and the points system, and what to say or not to say. The fraud figures are so low, because people aren't being investigated.

Probably quite a few did have savings. I should imagine they run out quite quickly though. Even if someone's still able to work (and lots aren't when ill or disabled) aside from everyday living costs - mortgage or rent, food, bills etc - being ill or disabled is expensive. It incurs extra costs. Hence PIP.

Also whilst perhaps some very wealthy people might claim PIP, I doubt many do. Applying sounds like a stressful and degrading thing to go through, so I suspect many of the wealthiest don't bother putting themselves through that.

There’s nothing funny about applying for a grant if someone can’t afford what is needed (as opposed to anything that is wanted but not needed). Many people do. And many are awarded grants.

Yet someone having a major stroke just after turning state pension age - that is clearly disability. It is not age related. I have a client who was awarded PIP a few weeks before turning state pension age due to an arthiritic knee ( ? age related) yet someone being paralysed from a major stroke a few weeks after turning pension age gets no mobility component. The reasoning does not add up at all. It's a very very unfair system that needs to be made fairer. I completely agree with your previous post that mobility could not be paid to everyone on AA though, completely unaffordable given how easily that is given out. Not sure what the answer is?

think you'll find that I wasn't talking about the groups that help actual disabled people, but the groups that DO exist, that advise people on what to say to claim PIP when there's nothing wrong with them, to "Do their bit" in "screwing over" the government.

If there really are social media groups doing that (so basically publicly and openly admitting to fraud) it should be easy to find and report.

PIP and other disability benefits take no account of capital reserves - they are universal for a reason. And most severely disabled people don’t have capital reserves because they are traditionally among the most long term unemployed/sick and low paid when in work. Add that to the cost of disability and there’s not much left.

Look on the bright side.

Your lot are in now, and they are beyond reproach.

Lots more funding coming.

No. There aren’t. There are facebook and other social media sites, including MN which provide forums in which those with experience of benefit claims can advise on how to make the best claim first time round, thereby avoiding the stress of reconsiderations and appeals. I’ve taken part in these and AMA threads advising on how best to navigate the benefit system to ensure that a genuine claim is recognised as such.

There’s also an excellent site called Benefits and Work, who will advise on how to describe your disability and how it affects you, avoiding the pitfalls of repeating, and possibly contradicting yourself when completing what can be a very daunting form to complete - especially for those with mental health or cognitive conditions. Social media activity is looked at for benefit purposes, so open advice on fraudulent claims would be found and shut down.

Oh I seriously doubt it if the WFP debacle is anything to go by. That was the toe in the water and they got it through. The sky’s the limit now. Disability and sickness benefits are next.

I understand what you’re saying, but, as you say, the difficulty is where to draw the line.

Sorry - not with you…….

@Rosscameasdoody Thanks for explaining.
It seemed a bit odd that people would be so openly and publicly talking about "screwing over the government". Perhaps the other poster saw a couple of individual posts on one of those support groups and mistakenly thought one or two rogue posters represented everyone else.

I honestly can’t see how this happens. I have complex health condition and currently can’t leave the house alone, my family do everything for me most days of the week.
I see private specialist twice a month and under a regional nhs team who I see monthly. I have pages of evidence to support this. I get standard mobility no care, this is with multiple consultants listing why I can’t do the activities on the assessment.
if that isn’t enough to get even standard living award how are people faking it and getting the maximum award?!

Yep. A friend who is a double amputee has just secured funding for an expensive top box and hoist to place her wheelchair so that she can get in and out of the car.

'your lot'.
Not the labour party. Some understanding from the Lib Dems but otherwise a minority. Ever it was thus. So the answer is what? Each person to be personally interviewed, medically assessed and monitored for recovery? Perhaps workhouses suit the tax payer better? So for the majority of basic claimants this will cost more. Who is qualified to do this? Angry keyboard warriors?
When I refused to donate to a beggar as a 25 year old my mother said 'why do you judge him?' I said he'll spend it on booze or drugs. She said, 'let that be on his conscious not yours'.
Ditto the people on here who judge the disabled posters. You are 50% likely to develop cancer and 25% likely to be in an accident. Thus you join a club nobody wants to join. Think on.

I sort-of want to laugh at your ignorance. How can you tell if someone is disabled via their posting on an internet form?! Hint: you cannot.
You do not speak for all disabled people.

I don’t doubt that there are a minority of disability benefit claims that are fraudulent. Posters who are angry about this what’s the solution? I get the impression many of you would be happy for disabled people to get no benefits other than a basic subsistence amount to keep them fed & little more! Just in case Dave at 62 with the ‘bad back’ might get a few quid of your precious taxes! Genuine question what suggestions do you all have or would you rather just point the finger and froth about all the scroungers? Personally I prefer the most vulnerable in our society to be protected and kept fed & warm! There will always be people who are dishonest , on the take etc, demonising the disabled won’t change that !

They’re not. Except on mumsnet. HTH

I’m disabled from birth - Spina Bifida. In an era when disabled children could be bunged in an orphanage and left to get on with it. Wheelchair bound, amputee, double stoma and countless other effects, the consequences of which have been - interesting to say the least. Don’t attempt to tell me I don’t understand disability or don’t listen to fellow disabled people - I’ve spent a good proportion of my life understanding their needs and helping them achieve what’s important to them in life.

You’ve posted absolute unmitigated garbage on this thread, some of which you should be thoroughly ashamed of. And you’ve demonstrated another level of entitlement with your criticism of Motability - a charity doing sterling work to keep disabled people mobile within the confines of their benefit entitlement. It’s one thing knowing the PIP criteria, it’s quite another understanding it. And some of your posts demonstrate very clearly that you don’t - especially if you think fraud figures are low because of lack of investigation.

Have you ever tried to apply for one? The process is laughable.

I do, every time. Nothing is done.

How do you know who is disabled and who isn’t? I am, I didn’t ’announced’ it on the thread because there was no need to.