Do people really think PIP claimants are fraudsters?!

[Greedybilly]

As someone with a chronic illness in the middle of claiming PIP I think it's important to point out it's very stressful to go through the process and actually get the benefit.
To those who were inferring it's an easy blag - I would say yes there will always be a few scammers who claim fraudulently ( though god knows how tbh?) the majority have to struggle for years/go through appeals/give up.
Just saying this for balance as I feel MN is turning slghtly into the Daily Fail.

I've worked in jobs relating to the benefits system and I get that there are blaggers and scammers but I still believe most are genuine. It's fucking irritating when people say otherwise - based on the cleaner at work!!! How can people possibly know/believe that much about someone elses finances.?

Mental health conditions do not start and end with mild depression and anxiety. Some conditions are severe and lifelong. There is no cure. Just managing to live with it. For some people, managing their conditions is a full time job in itself.

Even if there is fraud. Vast majority desperately need the money. I cannot imagine life with a chronic illness. Genuinely. MN has opened my eyes

I think there’s a bit of a “legacy” issue.Similar to the single mum of 12 kids on benefits who got two houses ! Once upon a time it was probably easier, but assessments and thresholds have massively changed. The media narrative hasn’t, and everyone still remembers that neighbour with a “bad” back in 2001.

People who work and claim PIP tend to be able to work because they get the PIP payments.

It is always the way though. The people most vocal about fraudsters etc usually have no idea what PIP is for, how it is awarded and what it actually really is.

Trouble is we all know people who are fraudsters on Pip I personally know two who genuinely need it and would get it every day of the week with every assessor. Complete shysters and three who you know they probably be better off actually getting a job and trying to function in society. Pip can create a really bad dependency. Since this government came into power 4 of my acquaintances I think it would be interesting to see how it's increased. It definitely seems much easier to get I've got a very long standing injury that stops me working any more but I have rental properties and savings and I've retired early it's been recommended to me that I could go for pip which I don't need don't want but probably would get at the lower level.

A close friend has a similar role, she’s recently had to help someone who is an alcoholic claim, they were awarded it, she feels bad because all it’s done is given them a few hundred more pounds a month to facilitate their addiction.

@Yamamm you can get PIP and work.
Basic facts but don't let them get in the way of your opinion or anything.

No. The Tories (and Labour) have been proactive in trying (but failing) to prevent fraud. No party has ever claimed that all claimants are 'scammers'.

Seriously? Are you really asking this? I don't know whether to laugh or cry at comments like this.

@GagMeWithASpoonI agree there's a lot of historical rubbish spouted about benefits. Drives me nuts. What an angry and intolerant nation we are turning in to.

I know someone who walks 10 miles a day for exercise. Lifts weights. Does aerobics style workouts. And claims PIP.

I do often wonder what health ailments they claim on the basis on. Can anyone enlighten me, incase I'm being ignorant?

Apparently 3.7 million people in the Uk are currently claiming PIP. Not sure if that's a lot,but feels to me like it's quite high?

There'll be false claimants of course! Links to fb pages on how to claim it. Fb groups etc. Why would you need to do that if you are a genuine claimant?

A sensory impairment, Autism, a mental health condition, etc?

There will be some who are defrauding the system - that’s true of any mass system that ends in people getting money. That doesn’t mean everyone, or even the majority are but it’s a fallacy to suggest it doesn’t ever happen.

Do you think all the people who compete in the Paralympics are not disabled and dont claim PIP?

Being a PIP claimant does not mean you are stuck in home staring at a wall.
Exercise can also be prescribed to help with some conditions too.

You are being ignorant. Sorry.

This is one of my biggest worries about my job. I spoke to a Gp once to get some medical evidence for an alcoholic to claim PIP. the GP said to me that "people like you make my job harder, they just drink more ". Within a year of helping this person to get PIP he was dead. £600 a month extra in his pocket. It doesn't sit right with me. There has to be better ways of helping these people. I cannot refuse to do this even though I have constantly told my manager i am not comfortable doing so. So it's time to leave.

I'm not sure if that's a good comparison. They don't have any physical disabilities and they aren't paraplegics

Well I've yet to hear or read anyone saying all PIP claimants are fraudsters.

I've heard and read people saying that some are.

And you clearly agree with them

"I would say yes there will always be a few scammers who claim fraudulently"

So I'm not sure what you're hoping to achieve here? 😳

@HoskinsChoicebasic Tory ideology is lack of state intervention/stand on own 2 feet etc - always been very intolerant of the riff- raff on benefits. I don't think I'm saying anything new/difficult to grasp.
Current govmt seem to be heading same way imoi.

Have you ever applied? The forms are very long and complicated.
Someone else filled mine in. If I had done it then it would have been a rambling mess.
The information online is about how to word things so your difficulties are understood. It is not information on how to lie.

That you know of.

No i absolutely do not think people deliberately are trying to fraudulently claim pip.

However, I think resilience & grit are at an all time low. I think a lot people consider that they cannot do things if they find them hard, or upsetting, or if doing those things reduce their energy to do other things (such as hobbies outside work).

I believe you cannot do something if you literally cannot do it. For example, you cannot walk to the shops if you are paraplegic, or have a severe learning disability that means you can't remember where the shops are or read a map/instructions to get there.

You can walk to the shops if you have severe anxiety, however it might leave you drained and it may be a really unpleasant experience for you.

I think a lot of people with mental health conditions in particular genuinely feel utterly impaired, that cannot cope with any sort of job etc, who actually might feel better working & having purpose and self worth. Its a really difficult cycle to be trapped in.

So I don't think those people are fraudulently claiming pip, i just think fewer people overall should be eligible and it should be reserved for those most severely impaired.

I can't help but feel that the level of impairment at which someone can receive pip is set at a point which captures too great a proportion of the population.

Well, I'm related to them so yes. I do know.

Excellent post.

I don’t agree with it being not means tested and not restricted to specific purposes. It encourages the abuse as it can be spent on whatever.