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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed of of vile comments re disability and pip- so come on those people suggest a job for me.

294 replies

Laughydodo · 03/10/2024 23:22

Named changes for this

Fed up of the vile comments about disability including on mumsnet.
(I know it’s a minority on here). Especially against those who claim PIP.

Fed up of feeling like a second class citizen because I claim benefits.

Fed up of people saying my mental health will improve if I am at work.

Fed up of disability top trumps with people saying things like- I have this , this and this disability and I manage to work.

Fed up that some people seem be hoping that Pip is abolished and then people like us will have to find another way to support ourselves. Also so fearful of this happening.

I clung onto work for years with having epilepsy and fibromyalgia. Fighting to stay in while employers were trying everything to get rid of me. I would be let go from one job on health grounds only to start the process again and it end the same way.

I now claim pip and esa as i have up to 20 seizures a week. Half of which I lose my memory and speech (I don’t even recognise my husband at times) and are totally wiped out for half a day at least . Would love some of the smug arseholes that’s seem to think everyone can work find someone who is willing to employ me. Oh and I piss myself as well and lose control of my bowels with many of my seizures. This is without the pain of fibro coming into it all.

So come on then these people on here who think all disabled people should work- suggest all the jobs that I can do that will benefit my mental health so I won’t be a burden on the state. Would you honestly be happy to employ me?

Sorry but the self righteous comments from people who dont have a clue is really starting to boil my piss. Oh and one day it might happen to them. I was 22 when I developed epilepsy, 30 when I got fibro after having glandular fever. I would not wish this one anyone obviously but people seem to forget that disability can happen at any time.

So waiting for the jobs suggestions to begin and the list of employers that would employ me-

OP posts:
SpidersAreShitheads · 05/10/2024 07:38

Candaceowens · 05/10/2024 07:20

I've never said it was a majority.

My first post was just pointing out to OP that she wasn't what people were talking about when they say these things as hers is a genuine case and people were all trying to tell me that there's a 0% fraud score for PIP.

In fairness what PP actually said was that the DWP have assessed the fraud level as being practically zero. The zero figure comes from their official assessment and publication.

No one gets PIP on the basis of a few mad claims, no matter what you might hear in the playground.

You might occasionally get someone who’s such a good liar they’ve managed to exaggerate a. Condition and been consistent enough to fool all the professionals. But the number of people who would fall into this category is so vanishingly rare the number of fraudulent cases IS practically zero.

No one is getting PIP because they chucked some water down their leggings.

Genevieva · 05/10/2024 07:48

Sampler · 04/10/2024 17:49

@Genevieva thats grand but I can’t wish my daughter’s disability away for tax purposes unfortunately.

I couldn’t agree more. In other European countries, the way support is structured means that she might get more or she might get less, depending on the nature of her disability. The further it has to spread, the less there is per recipient.

fixingmylife · 05/10/2024 07:52

I can't believe the speculation on here. This is "othering" people claiming PIP. These are things you know absolutely nothing about. Idle chit-chatting and speculating about other people's conditions and whether or not they can claim PIP is exactly what repressive regimes want us to do in society and it has to stop. People who do not claim PIP have absolutely no idea the hoops they have to go through in order to support themselves.

Noras · 05/10/2024 07:58

Gloriia · 04/10/2024 18:02

I don't think it is fraud per se. I doubt someone fit and well lies about illnesses, it is just open to interpretation and possible embellishment.
The assessment needs changing.

Someone may well have an illness that affects their quality of life but so many illnesses fit into that bracket. Chronic ear infections for example cause balance and mobility issues but do sufferers need pip/DLA? No.

ESA is there for sick pay until people are well enough to get back to work. PiP, imo, should be for those with permanent physical disabilities not illnesses, or serious mh issues that necessitates care under a mental health team.

Edited

That’s ridiculous to limit it to ‘physical disabilities’. My son aged 20 has ASD and complex needs. As an example of his care needs he decided to talk about suicide last week so for safeguarding reasons we had to arrange for him that come home from overnight life skills college ( as the request of college). We then had to travel 30 miles return trip to discuss his return to overnight stays and how to support him etc. His unhappiness was caused by his clumsiness ( he had motor coordination issues) in breaking his laptop and then being unable to cook a proper edible meal. This combined with a change of staff and routine altogether inpacted him.
He was not allowed to stay overnight last week.
His issues not only affect him but also me as I have to field his several calls a day from life skills college. Even when he’s not here I have to sort out his toilet ( invariably blocked he has constipation issues) organise his PA’s ( timesheets etc) his weekends ( what he will be doing) liaise with other agencies about his activities, his taxis to life skills etc His entire life is organised by my for the sum of carers allowance!

Disabilities are not just physical - the worst can be mental such as ASD. He has zero executive functioning and can’t even get the right day to see a friend. A simple arrangement - he can’t do it. Every week I get repeat phone calls eg do I have any online tutoring today? No look at your time table - your online lessons are tomorrow / Thursday.

I can’t wave a magic wand and wish it away - I wish that I could and frankly, the stresses of claiming PIP and UC on his behalf along with having to sort out an agency just to have a holiday or have a non holiday by taking him - frankly I saw my GP last year because for a day I actually thought that jumping off a bridge would be a better life for me ( no life). I was so scared I rang a friend who immediately came over. It was all too much and I hated my life. I felt like I was serving some
prison sentence with it all with no way out.

I’m now desperate to work and do something useful but all this upset occurred last week when I hoped that he was settled. I don’t get benefits for my self other than carers which is derisory for the work involved. In an ideal world he would be in supported living and I could get my life back but at present that would not work for him. So I’m saving the State money by keeping him home.

So frankly please understand disabilities.

If you have poor executive functioning like my son you need to be directed/ promoted through every step eg have you showered, change your clothes, don’t cook cakes at 4am. Look it’s raining - maybe a coat is a good thing. What would you like to to this weekend shall I arrange a PA to go to a museum. He has little concept of time he can be nocturnal so will get up at 3am shower,
fall asleep and not realise the taxi is there to take him to life-skills at 8am.

Today the local authority is picking him up at 10.45 to take him to an event ( he has to have his Covid jab at 9.15 first need to take him there). Afterwards he was making an attempt to see a friend at 2.30 but that did not work out ( it was a little task for him as part of life skills ) so I need to ensure the council send arrange to bring him home after the event. I was going to get a Pa to take him to see his friend.

I can never properly relax - I went out with friends on Thursday but my husband had to come home form work to cover the early evening ( not leaving him alone too long).

It’s frankly exhausting.

All this talk about the Government being broke etc makes it all feel worse and is unhelpful. Frankly that’s an issue with Government as there are huge quantities of tax payer money waste. There are huge amounts of tax fraud - try tackling that etc.
As it is people like me are already despairing about the future that our kids have and trying to provide for them as best we can.

Nsky62 · 05/10/2024 07:58

LoremIpsumCici · 04/10/2024 00:11

I know you meant to be supportive @SabreIsMyFave
but this:

”Being at home, doing what you want when you want to do it, waking when you want, chilling, and doing your favourite hobbies, and seeing your friends and your family when you want to”

is not the reality what life at home is like for far too many who are too disabled to work.

The reality is more
Grieving for what you’d want to do, but cannot due to disability (work, hobbies, basic day to day activities, seeing friends/family), anxiety over your poor health and meagre living allowance, struggling to keep pushing for healthcare and getting to/from appointments, frustration at being so dependent on others when you crave or miss independence, isolation from society & social events, the stigma of being unemployed and not seeking work, the pain and fatigue of the disabling conditions, realising your life expectancy is much shorter than average.

Exactly, someone recently commented that I was walking awkwardly, in my local supermarket, I informed her why, yes I have moderate Parkinson’s at 62, affecting my right side more.(7 yrs in)
What others fail to notice is getting up, ( I live alone with dearest cat) being wonky, the pain at times and general weakness, I also get mild brain fog too.
I get pip, naturally I struggle with every day stuff and have become progressively worse over time, no pre testing

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 08:10

Gloriia · 04/10/2024 18:02

I don't think it is fraud per se. I doubt someone fit and well lies about illnesses, it is just open to interpretation and possible embellishment.
The assessment needs changing.

Someone may well have an illness that affects their quality of life but so many illnesses fit into that bracket. Chronic ear infections for example cause balance and mobility issues but do sufferers need pip/DLA? No.

ESA is there for sick pay until people are well enough to get back to work. PiP, imo, should be for those with permanent physical disabilities not illnesses, or serious mh issues that necessitates care under a mental health team.

Edited

What a ridiculous and ignorant thing to say on so many levels. Thankfully you don’t make the rules and MH is a protected disability.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/disability-discrimination/disability/

Gloriia · 05/10/2024 08:17

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 08:10

What a ridiculous and ignorant thing to say on so many levels. Thankfully you don’t make the rules and MH is a protected disability.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/disability-discrimination/disability/

I'm sorry you think I'm ignorant and ridiculous. I have family members who rightly claim pip for lifelong disabilities i also know people who have successfully claimed for medical conditions that can be managed without any financial assistance.

The problem ime is the quality of assessor and the very broad terminology used.

One relative was assessed by a paramedic! I believe they do a brief course to train them re conditions etc. This person just did not understand some medical terminology. If they don't understand the serious genuine stuff I can really understand how other minor stuff gets misinterpreted too.

Noras · 05/10/2024 08:22

I think that a lot more needs to be done to enlighten people about disabilities.

There should be a lot more on tv and in films as disabled people are hidden away. People don’t really see the level of care needs etc and have no idea.

I had someone once tell me that I was not suggesting that my son was as disabled as the son of her dearest friend who had CP!

What can you say about that?

At the time my son was fecal incontinent, struggled to talk on 1 percentile as well as ASD.

My son has now improved but still has high intense needs.

The lad with CP went straight to university with PA support and all is done my a PA.

My son has a place at university but had to go to life skills for 2 years as even with support he won’t survive university unless he improves a lot. I only get limited PA support and still am his main carer.

Even the system is prejudiced to physical issues.

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 08:25

Gloriia · 05/10/2024 08:17

I'm sorry you think I'm ignorant and ridiculous. I have family members who rightly claim pip for lifelong disabilities i also know people who have successfully claimed for medical conditions that can be managed without any financial assistance.

The problem ime is the quality of assessor and the very broad terminology used.

One relative was assessed by a paramedic! I believe they do a brief course to train them re conditions etc. This person just did not understand some medical terminology. If they don't understand the serious genuine stuff I can really understand how other minor stuff gets misinterpreted too.

Edited

I have a child who gets and deserves enhanced PIP for MH conditions and autism. She was pushed strongly by NHS professionals to get it and had letters of recommendation from them alongside a folder full of paperwork. Her conditions have caused repeated hospital admissions and impact her life massively.

You have no idea what is involved or how debilitating it can be and as for “ care under a mental health team” don’t make me laugh! What do you think people are getting. There is next to no “care” for MH.

Gloriia · 05/10/2024 08:43

'I have a child who gets and deserves enhanced PIP for MH conditions and autism. She was pushed strongly by NHS professionals to get it and had letters of recommendation from them alongside a folder full of paperwork. Her conditions have caused repeated hospital admissions and impact her life massively.'

Of course like the op your dd has significant disabilities that necessitates pip and that is supported by professionals and repeated hospital admissions etc.

We all know of other people that this just isn't the case though.

It makes it incredibly difficult for genuine claimants as the system is constantly getting reviewed as the numbers claiming are soaring for conditions that's aren't lifelong and/or significant. The training and quality of assessors needs to be addressed.

Errors · 05/10/2024 08:47

OP I would imagine that the majority of people would say that your case is what PIP is actually for. You can’t work with your condition.

But you can’t go around thinking that people talking about the system needing an overhaul are personally attacking you. I have a relative with DS who claims full PIP and I don’t think those posters are aiming their comments at him, either.

We need to have big discussions about societal level problems without everyone thinking it’s a personal attack on them. It’s so common on MN!

Errors · 05/10/2024 08:50

If anything, I think you should be more annoyed at people who claim PIP that don’t need it! Surely that’s what is causing the issues?

Errors · 05/10/2024 08:54

I also disagree with the statement above about PIP not being for mental disabilities… of which Down’s Syndrome is one. There is a whole raft of mental disorders that would severely limit/impact someone’s ability to work. ASD, dementia, schizophrenia to name but a few.

But there is a world of difference between these and someone claiming they can’t work just because of anxiety. And I have had anxiety so I know what it’s like.

PandoraSox · 05/10/2024 08:55

Candaceowens · 05/10/2024 06:59

It's not made up ableist bullshit FFS.

Are people seriously trying to say that absolutely nobody falsely claims benefits?

But since you want to know- I worked until recently in a school in a deprived area. The parents would openly discuss their claims and the lengths they'd gone to to try and falsely claim benefits. PIP was sort of glorified as the top prize. This was a regular conversation had by many.

Actually one memory that sticks with me is a woman who announced to everyone that she hadn't pissed herself (the front of her leggings was soaked) but that she'd told PIP she pisses herself in public because she's so anxious. She was laughing about it and others congratulated her on her genius.

Of course they did , of course she did. It is AMAZING how all these PIP cheats are SO open about it. Honestly, at least try to be original. Nice shoe-horning in of "deprived area" too.

No one is saying that PIP fraud does not exist. But as pp said, it is so low, DWP record it as 0%.

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 08:57

Gloriia · 05/10/2024 08:43

'I have a child who gets and deserves enhanced PIP for MH conditions and autism. She was pushed strongly by NHS professionals to get it and had letters of recommendation from them alongside a folder full of paperwork. Her conditions have caused repeated hospital admissions and impact her life massively.'

Of course like the op your dd has significant disabilities that necessitates pip and that is supported by professionals and repeated hospital admissions etc.

We all know of other people that this just isn't the case though.

It makes it incredibly difficult for genuine claimants as the system is constantly getting reviewed as the numbers claiming are soaring for conditions that's aren't lifelong and/or significant. The training and quality of assessors needs to be addressed.

Edited

No I actually don’t know other people where this isn’t the case.

I don’t ask what benefits people get and I don’t scrutinise their paperwork.

Like most people I don’t broadcast my DD’s benefits because of the clear hate that surrounds PIP so I’d love to know where people get their information to base their accusations on .

PandoraSox · 05/10/2024 09:02

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 08:57

No I actually don’t know other people where this isn’t the case.

I don’t ask what benefits people get and I don’t scrutinise their paperwork.

Like most people I don’t broadcast my DD’s benefits because of the clear hate that surrounds PIP so I’d love to know where people get their information to base their accusations on .

They get it from inside their malicious, paltry, bigoted imaginations.

It is always the same tale, told over and over and over again. The embellishments change but the core lie doesn't. It is shameful that MNHQ allow such lies to stand.

Sampler · 05/10/2024 09:09

I don’t know what your problem is @Gloriia
You are adamant you ‘know’ the system is abused yet statistics show it isn’t.
let it go.

Hoardasauruskaren · 05/10/2024 09:11

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 04/10/2024 08:15

I’m mainly bed bound.

Someone on one of those horrible threads asked me why l needed pip if l spent all day laying in bed. It’s not like l did anything they said

l told them l spent it on staff aka Downton Abbey. That really pissed them off.

Wow ! The downright ignorance of some people! No clue what being bed bound actually means! As if you’re just lazing around watching Netflix all day because you CBA doing anything else. Angry on your behalf!

Sampler · 05/10/2024 09:16

I was actually thinking MN should have some kind of sticker/warning for anyone posting about PIP and remind people to be civil or get banned. It shouldn’t be a free for all for bitter twinset keyboard warriors who don’t bother reading the thread properly and haven’t seen a PIP form. For some reason the ill informed believe they have a right to abuse disabled people. Perhaps I’ll go to site stuff or ask HQ.

Chipsintheair · 05/10/2024 09:18

Errors · 05/10/2024 08:54

I also disagree with the statement above about PIP not being for mental disabilities… of which Down’s Syndrome is one. There is a whole raft of mental disorders that would severely limit/impact someone’s ability to work. ASD, dementia, schizophrenia to name but a few.

But there is a world of difference between these and someone claiming they can’t work just because of anxiety. And I have had anxiety so I know what it’s like.

PIP is to help disabled people to pay the extra it costs them to be able to work, (as well as to help with other extra costs for those who can't work) though, so of course people who are able to work can get it.

Chipsintheair · 05/10/2024 09:19

Sampler · 05/10/2024 09:16

I was actually thinking MN should have some kind of sticker/warning for anyone posting about PIP and remind people to be civil or get banned. It shouldn’t be a free for all for bitter twinset keyboard warriors who don’t bother reading the thread properly and haven’t seen a PIP form. For some reason the ill informed believe they have a right to abuse disabled people. Perhaps I’ll go to site stuff or ask HQ.

Do. It's hate-speech against disabled people.

Beryls · 05/10/2024 09:21

I think a lot of the time people can be critical of PIP because many people know of someone who openly plays the system and gets away with it. It is utterly wrong to tar everybody with the same brush but that's where it comes from unfortunately. It's those people making it harder for everyone else with disabilities.

I don't know anybody who would begrudge payments for genuinely disabled people who cannot work, but the one that will stick in their minds is Ian up the road who's never worked a day because of his 'mental health' but lives a happy, full life and openly admits to playing the system. They're the people that we should be angry at and they're the ones making it harder for everyone else.

I don't know what the answer is, the assessments have to be 'tough' to try and prevent those people who just don't want to work from receiving money for nothing, but that then makes it harder for people with genuine disabilities.

PandoraSox · 05/10/2024 09:25

Sampler · 05/10/2024 09:16

I was actually thinking MN should have some kind of sticker/warning for anyone posting about PIP and remind people to be civil or get banned. It shouldn’t be a free for all for bitter twinset keyboard warriors who don’t bother reading the thread properly and haven’t seen a PIP form. For some reason the ill informed believe they have a right to abuse disabled people. Perhaps I’ll go to site stuff or ask HQ.

MNHQ don't care.

I discussed the ableism on here a while back with MNHQ. I suggested they post on disability benefit bashing threads with something similar to what you are suggesting, and to remind people that most disability benefit claimants are genuine.They discussed it apparently, but decided not to.

But if you want to give it another go, do so!

Blu3S1st3r · 05/10/2024 09:27

PandoraSox · 05/10/2024 09:25

MNHQ don't care.

I discussed the ableism on here a while back with MNHQ. I suggested they post on disability benefit bashing threads with something similar to what you are suggesting, and to remind people that most disability benefit claimants are genuine.They discussed it apparently, but decided not to.

But if you want to give it another go, do so!

They don’t care about autism or adhd bashing either. Back in the day they did care. Now I think their focus is on advertising and making money.

PandoraSox · 05/10/2024 09:27

Beryls · 05/10/2024 09:21

I think a lot of the time people can be critical of PIP because many people know of someone who openly plays the system and gets away with it. It is utterly wrong to tar everybody with the same brush but that's where it comes from unfortunately. It's those people making it harder for everyone else with disabilities.

I don't know anybody who would begrudge payments for genuinely disabled people who cannot work, but the one that will stick in their minds is Ian up the road who's never worked a day because of his 'mental health' but lives a happy, full life and openly admits to playing the system. They're the people that we should be angry at and they're the ones making it harder for everyone else.

I don't know what the answer is, the assessments have to be 'tough' to try and prevent those people who just don't want to work from receiving money for nothing, but that then makes it harder for people with genuine disabilities.

I think a lot of the time people can be critical of PIP because many people know of someone who openly plays the system and gets away with it. It is utterly wrong to tar everybody with the same brush but that's where it comes from unfortunately. It's those people making it harder for everyone else with disabilities

No, no it isn't. It is people like you, suggesting PIP fraud is common when it is not, who make life difficult for disabled people.