‘Game the system’ disability benefits

[Tomatochocolate]

WTF
just read a bbc article about welfare reforms

Apparently ministers think that it’s an incentive to claim disability benefits as the incentive is no work commitments on UC. That claimants ‘game the system’

It’s a long process and really hard to get awarded dla or pip. It’s not just ticking a box that says ‘I’m too sick to work’.

AIBU to think this is just horrific

Yes, but not pip so won’t be included in those figures (like DLA)

They have to make cuts, so I suspect they will raise the threshold and label it as ‘stopping people from gaming the system’. It makes it sound more palatable to left wing voters.

To ascertain their level of need / disability if the 2 departments could work together then surely some of the information in the dla or pip assessment would be needed to make the decision for other benefits ?

So when papers like the Daily Express or the Mail are referring to huge numbers being on sickness or disability they aren't including attendance allowance.

Don't forget some common issues like type 2 diabetes, heart or lung diseases, cancers etc also kill or disable those in their 40s and 50s. Retirement age keeps going up. A person can have middle age type health issues long before retirement age Or 65+.

@Wildflowers99
New claim is AA, current claim stay on PIP. Plus @DaveyTheCavy isn't just talking about pensioners, they are highlighting our benefits system was never set up to support this many people with so many conditions.

Agree

It's that could that is so important here - there could be jobs which offer working from home, but more and more they want people in the office on set days. I don't get to choose when I have a seizure cluster making it unsafe to travel alone, so I'll be sacked for repeated absences in no time - at home, I could work around those. All the flexibility is expected on the part of those with very inflexible health conditions, with no onus on employers to be more disability friendly.

There have always been lying CFs.
There will always be lying CFs.
There are now more lying CFs than ever.

They can but that’s not what is driving the rise. The rise is being driven by MH and ND conditions. That’s not me being awkward, that’s a fact.

I just find it hard to believe that ministers can be so sure people are gaming the system but they have no proof of that and no intention of (it seems) doing anything other than cutting it for all on an imaginary basis of some people might be exaggerating …..

Because they see it with their own eyes, same as the rest of us.

They have to cut it regardless. We can’t afford to have the population of Scotland claiming disability benefits. Do you think we can?

So if that works for the fakers how come it doesn’t for the people with the severe, enduring illness?

Fair enough . Of course people aren't being institutionalised now for these significant MH and ND conditions like they used to be. Not to mention we have just been through a major crisis (pandemic) sit a fallout of significant trauma cases (especially in front line healthcare workers).

I know loads of people(and have met them through my work) who are gaming the system. It is always mental health /ND. Think about it - on sickness benefits there's no pressure to work, rent paid, free prescriptions, free everything, do what you like all day. I have met through my line of work entire families on DLA or PIP or LCWRA who could absolutely work. They genuinely have a better life on sickness benefits.

The rise only started around 2012. Where were these institutions for a good 20/30 years before that?

People do game the system and there’s been threads on here of people advising others on how to do it. If you’re not gaming the system don’t be offended by the allegation that other people do, and don’t be so naive as to think everyone is genuine.

@Wildflowers99

Yes, but not pip so won’t be included in those figures (like DLA)

Lots of pensioners get PIP, of course they will be included in the figures.

They don’t have to cut it , they need to work out how to fund the increase not punish people. Imagine if cancer rates suddenly increased hugely you couldn’t say cut treatment you’d have to look at how to fund it for all !

Another thing - have met lots of women wanting their kids to be diagnosed with autism or ADHD so they can claim DLA for them.

Another thing - have met lots of women wanting their kids to be diagnosed with autism or ADHD so they can claim DLA for them.

Of course you have.

Add to that 15 years of austerity with virtually all community and social projects withdrawn and you have an overall worsening of health among the population, both physical and mental. Fair enough if the government wants to reduce the benefits bill but surely they have to look at the reasons for raise in claimants to begin with. And I somehow doubt that extra 30k applications per months are fraudulent/exaggerated.

The people hurt by this are not just those gaming the system. There are countless people going through MR and tribunal because they've been wrongly denied PIP (proven by the fact so many are awarded at tribunal) - tightening up the system makes it harder for everyone

@Lolarowan you don't even need a diagnosis to claim DLA so they obviously aren't well equipped to game the system however you need loads of evidence (in my experience anyway), a diagnosis wouldn't cut it.

You can’t get a diagnosis unless you meet the criteria - and you can’t fake a child’s response to an ADOS for ASD so if they get it they deserve it !