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.

How do you think DWP have calculated this super accurate figure? How have they begun to estimate how many people have exaggerated a bit or even wholesale lied?

"If so few people are defrauding the system, why is there the public perception that fraud is rife?"

Some of the public have the perception that painting on roundabouts is a good thing.

And we're back to the question 'how do you check who is exaggerating and who isnt without it having an impact on genuine claiments' round and round we go

As someone who receives PIP, I think the process is quite flawed. Mine was almost wholely reliant on what I said over a phone call and I could have said anything.

Over my career working with children with complex physical disabilities, I have helped several families complete forms. I work closely with them over many years, visiting them in their homes. The DLA awards have at many times felt quite random, with children who are fully wheelchair bound awarded standard mobility, and children who can walk but fall occasionally awarded higher rate. With awards often linked to how well a form is written rather than need.

There needs to be a better way of reliably evaluating need so the support gets to those most in need in a timely way.

It's near 0 though? I mean the data is what the data says. We only head about the fraud. Will an article be posted about how someone on PIP finds the money a lifeline with helping them deal with the disability.

You think the reason people are unwell with their mental health is a lack of incentive to get better?

The same way they calculated the high rate of universal credit fraud but we don't talk about that as their not the most vulnerable people in society

This is the only person I know commiting disability benefit fraud and this was years ago

I’ve seen the analogy used (paraphrasing) “I don’t have anything against genuine rape victims, but so many women cry rape”

The patient has to provide evidence of consultant/healthcare letters and records. It's definitely not based on what the patient says.

For sure if they weren't being paid they would get a job and therefore improve their mental health (im talking about anxiety etc here in this case btw not schizophrenia)

But that’s not every case as highlighted above in a pp

Thats not what some previous posters have said.

And you actually believe that

They might already have a job

(Christ this is tedious)

Well that's great then! 😃

I know several people who are fraudulently claiming PiP . I have reported three people and they had their benefits stopped. One actually talked me through how to fake it. She was rightly charged with fraud.
Of course people cheat the system but it's not the fault of the system . It's the fault of the greedy, lazy people who don't want to work

I have a job

A job I've had for the past 12 years since I signed myself off from ESA

I mean you're right that if I got the help I needed I could hopefully work MORE.

it's not through lack of wanting or trying to. I've tried several times to work back at full time hours unfortunately everytime has led to a mental breakdown and me being off sick which unfortunately has meant dropping back down to part time hours.

Personally I feel better working some hours (as much as I can) than not working at all, that actually all I ever wanted when I was unable to work. I just wanted a job. Because for me to feel normal I needed a job ,cos that's what "normality" looks like to me.

I work iv had the same job for 15 years iv only been claiming pip for the last 3 years you never know whats around the corner no one is immune from becoming severely disabled.

Yes I agree. My comment was about anxiety and the like. Not being disabled.

Im the same im actually at work more working part time as everytime i try full time I end up in hospital and end up of for months at a time

I do agree that it can be about how well a form is written.

As I said on a previous comment, my son was still in hospital when I filled out his form and I was lucky enough to have help from a hospital social worker who dealt with DLA forms constantly.

She advised several things that massively helped such as if you feel as if you're repeating yourself, that means you're doing it right and to be very clear about the fact my son can't walk at all, don't just say he's in a wheelchair, make it clear that he can't walk even one step and repeat that when it is relevant. In the hobbies/activities section, she also advised that I write about football and how he can't do it at all now due to his disability.

He received high rate care/high rate mobility without any need for MR's or tribunals and though it was the right decision due to his needs, I know without a doubt that having someone who knows DLA forms so well hold my hand through it all made a huge difference too.

You could say that about a lot of what has been said

Anxiety and anxiety disorder are not the same thing and an anxiety disorder can absolutely be debilitating. Anxiety disorder is a group of disorders such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, selective mutism, ocd, ptsd. The problem is because the nhs is currently not fit for purpose people would of got seen treated and helped to get back to normal life now what happens is a gp will throw pills at you and you will be put on a 2/3 year waiting list while all the time getting significantly worse.

Anxiety can be incredibly severe.

Just look several pages back about pp's experience with her daughter who can't even leave the house alone or talk to anyone.