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.

I loathe the Mail and am a Labour voter, but people have valid questions about the amount of disability benefits being paid out and to whom, because the number has gone up a lot in recent years.
Many people actually know someone claiming PIP well enough to have reasonable questions about it. Myself included;
I know someone well, who is claiming both types of PIP and I'm sure she could work from home (she enjoys many hobbies, which I don't begrudge her) but she sees no reason to bother.
More annoyingly, she recently encouraged her son to claim, (for autism) despite the fact he is very bright, able, active, and just off to take up a good uni place.
Sorry but there's no way he would've been awarded a disability benefit 20 years ago. It's got completely out of hand and saying so isn't bashing disabled people, its bashing a crap system and the people who take advantage of it.

No, it isn’t harder to prove you don’t have a mental health condition. Standard GP treated anxiety and depression conditions are very rarely awarded PIP. The bar is set very high for mental health conditions and in most cases, at the very least your treatment needs to be via second line, consultant led mental health services.

How's that rude????
You go to your Dr, all the time complaining of pain, he/she can't find anything wrong......
Fibromyalgia
How can Fibromyalgia be proved?
It's an umbrella term that is completely and utterly abused.🙄

Such an old scam! People often fake neurological conditions because they are very easy to fake and very difficult to verity - I think they introduced compulsory urine tests only about 9 years ago, when the claimant claiming neurological disturbance has to demonstrate the presence of their particular medicine prescribed for the condition in the urine - but I don't know how they really properly check, etc.

Forgive me for raising it, but my Bulgarian ex SIL told me how she gamed the system to warrant a full NHS-funded check-up habitually denied to the taxpayer (even unheard of). She would go to a GP, complain of flank pain and GP predictably would give her a bottle to pee in, she would go to the surgery's toilet, pee in the bottle, then prick her finger and put a drop of blood in her urine. The GP would prescribe antibiotics to 'clear it', she would not take them, present again in a week's time and repeat the process - and be promptly referred for ultrasound tests, etc. etc. I thought to myself it was good that she only wanted a full check-up with this cheating, but if she was minded to fake some condition with hematuria as a symptom - what was to stop her?

Our system is not made for liars, it is made for honest people.

I know someone well, who is claiming both types of PIP and I'm sure she could work from home (she enjoys many hobbies, which I don't begrudge her) but she sees no reason to bother

PIP is not related to employment. You can work and get it and not work and get it.

This is surprising as IME you have to send evidence?

Yes they ask for supporting documents and ask who's care you're under and if anyone like OT etc is involved.

What do you do in mental health? It’s always people who give vague job descriptions who give information that doesn’t tally with lived experience of most psychiatric nurses, social workers and benefit advisors etc.

Nope. What a fucking awful comment. The motability scheme is reserved for those who are awarded the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP because they have severe mobility problems. Christ people. Stop reading the Daily Fail, do a bit of research into the eligibility criteria for PIP and apply a bit of critical thinking before you post from sheer ignorance.

Short of reporting her to the Benefits Office, there isn't much you can do and I sincerely hope you don't do that.

She may have exaggerated rather than lied and people do have conditions which cause difficulty in walking sometimes but not all the time. They have good days and bad days. I understand that very well.

Honestly, moe and more I think it is unwise to confide in friends or family - or anyone - details about personal finances. It can cause resentment which may not be shown openly but festers away.

I know not why, it's so pointless.

My autistic partner was claiming disability benefits 24 years ago when he went to University, so you're simply wrong on this, I'm afraid.

This! They contact GOs, specialists, consultants etc. She must have lied to them all

why would she tell you about her claim and that she's lied? I have bad stomach issues and can physically walk but for 2 weeks out of 4 I have possible endo pains from ovulation and my periods and get really dizzy. I'm also autistic. struggling to get higher rate mobility, told I might lose the claim if I take it to tribunal so I haven't

Benefit claimants could have a benefit bank account and debit card and account for everything too

What happens if they're working, do they have their wages paid into their special benefits bank account? Or are they allowed to have a normal bank account for their wages?
If this would be to make sure that benefits aren't being used on things that 'waste' the taxpayers money, are there approved suppliers that must be used? Is there a comprehensive list of what benefits claimants can purchase, and what is considered frivolous/unnecessary?
How is their spending monitored? Who's monitoring it?

How much is all of this costing to run?

Bloody idiot.

The country is on its knees not bacause a few people claiming PIP, but because of huge corporations avoiding paying taxes.

Not why. Why is rip off crony capitalism.

PIP very rarely contact any medic….be it gp or consultant….the onus is on the claimant to provide their own evidence

What are you on about? Claimants don't have to do urine tests for neurological or any other condition.

As for neurological conditions being easy to fake? Yeah my DH rearranged his DNA to fake his hereditary neurological condition. And his brain scan.

Benefits bank account for benefits only. It is more about stopping benefits having a cash value so it is known to the claimant that it can be audited and any spending held accountable at any time.

Stop cash being taken out. As I said no need for cash in todays society.

Calling me an idiot says a lot more about you than me.

This government should definitely tackle this; they would get a lot of support from 'ordinary people' if they were brave enough to take it on.
They would get loads of grief off their Guardian reading voters (of which I'm one haha) though. The type who naively believe that only rich / privileged people are piss takers and all working class / disabled people are worthy, salt of the earth types.

Yes but if you don’t provide any evidence, you’ll be hard pushed to get PIP awarded even if you genuinely have significant care, health and support needs.

Yes, how peculiar that a random poster on mumsnet would have more insight into the realities of PIP claimants than a professionally commissioned report!

I know of someone who was refused PIP who is very unwell and not mobile at all. I also know of a woman who has claimed it for years, she’s my next door neighbour. She was a social worker so knows how to play the system.

Do you actually know what the cost of disability is ?

How do you account for the extra household costs because you are disabled, confined to a wheelchair and live alone ?

Extra electricity costs because you need to charge essential equipment.
Extra gas and electricity costs because you’re never out of the shower or bath because of incontinence - not to mention the extra laundry.
Extra costs because you don’t qualify for LA help with care and have to buy it in.
Someone to put your bins out.
Someone to actually put your bin bags in the bin.
Someone to clean a couple of times a week - even if it’s only to do the things you can’t manage yourself.
Someone to mow the lawn/weed.
Someone to help you get out of the house, and if you’re lucky enough to have a car, into it and out of it at the other end.
Someone to help you bathe and change after accidents and cope with stomas - sometimes double stomas if you’re doubly incontinent.

Want me to go on ? You, and quite a few others here have no fucking idea what it’s like to live as a disabled person. And until you do, you really aren’t qualified to comment are you ?

Absolute nonsense. Yet another benefits bashing thread by a first time poster. It’s really demoralising to see some of the replies though.

So people would just use that account for bills and food …..it would soon be spent every month…I mean that wouldn’t bother me in the slightest…..but as I said earlier on….who is going to audit these accounts ……will cost millions to set up and audit 3.4m accounts