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.

That's why i keep speaking up. I used to be on the accessibility team for one of the conventions that runs at the NEC, and it shocked me how many people don't understand what true accessibility is, and how much we actually have to take into account with moving around places where buses and trains and carparks are concerned.

If my posts have opened the eyes of a single person, or even made them think about something a bit harder, then it's worth making them.

You may be right in your last paragraph, but re benefit fraud I have never heard anyone try to claim it doesn't exist. Of course it exists, it's an unfortunate fact of life, there will always be people who will try to swing the lead. And of course it matters, but that doesn't mean those who are in genuine need should be subjected to suspicion and stigma on the level that is often seen on these threads.

Do you even work and pay tax you seem to have a lot of spare time

It is. Amongst the usual ignorant hateful posts on these threads there are brilliant ones which people could learn something from.

And what if I didn't?

I never said it was cheap or simple to provide additional services. I know it isn't. The money we are talking about isn't minor though and could fund a lot of resources.

I also never said public transport was appropriate for everybody. I simply said that increasing the transport budget could easily positively impact disabled people's lives who face barriers to using transport that could be overcome by additional funding. To be honest, I find the argument against taxis very disconcerting as for many disabled people this is their only viable mode of transport. If the tax service is as unsafe as you suggest in your area then this should be investigated and resolved as a matter of urgency. It certainly isn't acceptable to pay for those disabled people that can drive to have their own cars whilst leaving those that can't drive at the mercy of an unsafe taxi service.

we've been calling for investigation for some time, the council conceded by insisting that all locally registered Taxis have to have internal cameras.
The drivers are combating this by registering in a neighbouring authority who don't have the same rules.. so now we're working on trying to close that loophole, but it's easier said than done!

If you don't i don't think you should be telling people like me the tax payer where my money should be spent.

I'd imagine they just got on with things as best they could.

Ok, so using your logic then disabled people that can't work and therefore don't pay tax shouldn't be telling the taxpayer where their money should be spent? Interesting.... Do you therefore think they shouldn't be allowed to vote because ultimately that's where taxation and spending priorities are decided and you seem to think they should have no say in this if they don't work and don't pay tax?

If I'm a higher rate tax payer do I get to ignore anyone that doesn't work and pay tax and get an even greater say because I'm contributing more into the system? Asking for a friend...

I claim PIP and ESA. I only get standard mobility in PiP despite reslly needing daily living too.

It was hard to get it

I want to know what people think I could possibly do for work instead of “scrounging”

I have poor mobility and balance. I can’t stand for hours and I need to sit the majority of the time. I can’t do anything that requires me to bend frequently either.

I can’t have anything that involves telephones because I’m deaf. I’m also not brilliant with thick accents again due to the deafness (I’m not completely deaf, but severely hard of hearing).

I have poor immune system so I get ill frequently. I’m talking sickness and diarrhoea type illness not just under the weather.

I’ve also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia which means that I get dizzy, I forget things easily, and I can suffer severe pain attacks that painkillers can’t touch

So? Name me a job I could easily do?

Why would an employer pick me over an able bodied person for the same job? They might say yes at first because of course discrimination, you can’t deny me just because I’m disabled, but when I have to take time off because I’m really sick, or in agony, my employer is going to get frustrated.

So…..answers?

I dont think a person should have such a strong opinion on something that doesn't effect them

Google it, it will tell you exactly what happened to disabled people before benefits just like what happened to people before universal credit i certainly wouldn't want to live in a world like that. The fact you think taking money away from disabled people suddenly makes them not disabled is just ignorant

Again, that's crazy logic. How we distribute public money absolutely affects everyone in the country. If there was a new policy where dog owners got £1k a year, would I be unable to have a strong opinion that this is wrong because I don't own a dog?

If we use public money to fund something then by default something else loses out. That is the thing that nobody on this thread will openly acknowledge. If we allow PIP to continue and grow how experts predict then cuts will need to be made elsewhere in vital areas. This will impact vulnerable groups the most who disproportionately rely on publicly funded services. I know you want to think of me as some unkind person that is desperate to deprive disabled people of money but instead I feel passionately that we need a sustainable approach to protect our public services. That is my focus.

Is the 4% the amount paid out or does it include cost of tribunals too?

Have a say on how the government spends money. Sure. Everyone can have an opinion on that regardless on what tax they pay.

But wanting a say in how disabled individuals spend their money as has been seen on this thread is really not acceptable. Telling the mother of an anxious teen that her daughter should not use taxis and get a bike instead, or telling someone that they should not be using PIP on private therapy.
That is intrusive and no one elses business.

You don't understand pip, you don't understand the pip process you don't understand the reality of severe disability, you don't work and you don't pay tax. Yet you have spent the last few days solidly on this thread arguing with people who do understand all these things. I think you need to either start listening and trying to learn or step away and focus on things that do effect you. That would be like me spending 3 days on a thread about teachers telling them how their views and life experience of teaching is wrong obviously i wouldn't do that as im not a teacher so I have no idea of the reality of that life. Its just bizzare and a bit pathetic don't you have friends or hobbies or something you could spend your time doing.

Here here 👏

Im not sure i dread to think how much they spend on tribunals now that is where the dwp could definitely save some money instead of thinking they know more then the claimants own consultants and just blatantly lying.

Exactly. It is intrusive and ignorant under the guise of logic and public service. Completely tone deaf.

@youalright Ah so we are back to personal insults and creating your own weird narrative when you literally know absolutely nothing about me. I have never confirmed if I work, what tax I pay and the only thing I have confirmed is I have experience with the PIP process.

I don't agree with you. It's as simple as that. Not because I don't understand or don't pay tax or whatever other completely unfounded accusation you want to throw around. Even your analogy about teachers is inappropriate. I find it amusing how you have singled me out as someone that is on this thread a lot but neglect to mention your allies @Plastictreees etc. You can attempt to bully people off this thread all you like but the world isn't an echo chamber. The rudest and most offensive posts have consistently been made by posters that claim to be advocates of disability rights and yet merrily imply the worst things about them (like your most recent post about non tax payers (including many disabled people) not having a say in how public money is spent).

Also just to let you know, it is perfectly possible to respond to a few posts on MN and live a productive and full life. I have in no way been on this thread for three solid days. Just in case you were worried about my mental health as I know you're definitely absolutely the caring, compassionate sort.

Yep.

I still can't believe the private therapy comment.

@Marshmallow4545 Your post is all projection. You and your cronies posts have been ignorant and offensive, and now you’re playing the victim. I completely agree with the previous posters suggestion that you should look into better ways of spending your days. How joyless.

Honestly this has descended so far into the depths of ridiculousness that you're completely right. It is a bad use of my time but just for the record:

1. You don't seem to know what projection means.
2. I don't have any 'cronies'.
3. I am not now nor have I ever played the victim. I pointed out that posts were offensive and rude. I haven't said they have upset me (they haven't). I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy from the 'be kind' brigade
4. I am not looking to get joy from this thread. I simply don't like to see debate shut down on such an important topic. The narrative that anyone wanting reform to PIP is unkind and mean spirited is damaging and wrong. There are other ways to help vulnerable people and we should be able to discuss and explore this without hyperbole, emotive language and insults.

I’m not reading your posts. Anyone who spends their time writing walls of texts detailing how disabled people should be given vouchers instead of money, should detail their expenses, shouldn’t get their nails done and other such ignorance is not worthy of my time. Or any of the other posters who’ve shared their personal experiences. You’ve shown no compassion or flexibility in thinking. So stop trying to argue with me and move on with your life.