To dob in family member - benefits

[Dragonsfoot]

I have a relative that does have health problems. They went to tribunal and were awarded higher rate PIP and have a motorbility car apparently supported by a Rottweiler of an advocate. I have no gripe that they deserve something - occasional falls, mild mental health problems, physical health problems that require monitoring and support and mild difficulties dressing themselves due to joint problems but don’t actually need to be helped. They do have a disability.

However, they are able to walk miles most of the time, decorate their home, complete domestic tasks and attend social activities on a very regular basis on foot. Morally torn. They probably will struggle without the money. Would DWP even do anything kind of thing. Either way I feel a bad person.

And once again, what business is it of OP’s ? PIP awards are based on the impact of a disability or health condition being present for at least 50% of the time. So the impact may not have been evident at the time, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. This person has not only been awarded PIP, but the award has been made by a tribunal so there is likely to be much more expertise and medical evidence to back up the claim. Why on earth would OP want to challenge that on the basis that they don’t think the person looks disabled enough ? The lack of understanding of what a PIP claim entails and what disability actually is, is quite depressing.

No, I know. My late husband could walk 20 metres, but only by hanging onto lampposts on the way. NHS induced MRSA caused it. 🙄

But, it’s not your role in life to judge. Best leave it to the professionals and jog on with life. 😉

Just because someone tells you they are disabled, doesn’t mean they are.

But in the context of PIP, it’s not a case of claimants just telling the assessor they are disabled. There needs to be evidence to back it up. In the absence of the claimant’s own medical reports - and sometimes in spite of them - the assessor will carry out a full assessment and make a recommendation to DWP based on their findings.

If someone has a PIP award you can be assured that someone a lot more qualified than a random in the street has ensured that they meet eligibility. In OP’s case, the claimant they are talking about has been to tribunal and every bit of evidence has been scrutinised by an expert panel. Who do you think has a better idea of their condition and how it affects them ?

The fact that this poster thought that the agencies helping claimants to fill in the forms are somehow responsible for making sure they are genuine, is a clear indication that the poster has no idea of what it takes to secure a PIP claim and clearly thinks it’s just a case of filling in a form and telling the DWP you are disabled. It’s so far from the truth it’s laughable.

Yes. I know. And I don’t quite get the deserving/undeserving mindset. Mind you, I’ve never had random people telling me all that they are claiming, either at bus stops, shops or the pub. 🙄

It's down to the department that awards benefits. Leave it to them to review recipients' claims.

And this is where savings can be made in the system. If a claimant has a higher rate award and there is little chance of their condition ever changing for the better, it’s absolutely pointless and expensive to keep assessing and reassessing. What most people don’t realise is that for the more severe conditions which warrant an open ended award, there is still a review, but it’s a light touch one where the claimants GP or other HCPs they are involved with are contacted to see if anything has changed. In most cases the claimant is unaware that a review has taken place because they are not contacted directly if there is no need/

Seems to be a phenomenon peculiar to MN doesn’t it ? So many people posting that their friend, relative, NDN, cleaner, dog walker etc etc have no problem telling them they are claiming - and seemingly no problem admitting they’re doing so fraudulently. I have no idea why anyone would do that, given the trouble it would cause if they were reported.

Once again, PIP is not an out of work benefit. It is not means-tested. PIP claimants and 'working people' are not two mutually exclusive groups as you appear to think. I work full time and receive the higher level of both components.
As I have said elsewhere, I have a disability which is both immediately obvious and have the kind of disability which few would quibble with, having been born without eyes and with multiple joint deformities.
I guess this makes me one of your 'deserving' disabled people. However, yours, in common with multiple similar posts on this thread, actually make me realise that there are some advantages to being obviously disabled, at least I don't have judgemental nosy strangers deciding I am not 'disabled enough', based on a cursory glance, and that I must therefore be a scrounger and reporting me to the DWP based on no evidence or knowledge!

Maybe the government should send an assessor round to my friends house once a month to just to see if her legs have grown back?

Nor me, but I think a lot of these threads are false, and just aim to start the frothers off. 🙄

The Ops of these types of threads always think they know a lot about the person they perceive to be claiming fraudulently, but usually they don't understand how PIP and DLA work 🤔
Its gone To tribunal but still the Op thinks they know better.

Well said.

Interesting first thread, as they say

I don’t have any right to do such thing, and never claimed to have. There are people paid with tax payers money to do this job, and when they are deciding whom to give tax payers money to, I would like to think that the assessment is based on a great deal more than self-reporting. As we know where there is an opportunity for free money, there are fraudsters.

Rest assured that the assessment is based on just more than what people self report.

Well you did do that. And you're continuing to cause damage by insinuating that such a distinction exists and that there are significant numbers of fraudulent claimants.
Why do you have this prejudice against disabled people?

Kind of realising the futility of reminding people that PIP claimants and tax payers are not two mutually exclusive groups. It's looking more and more like disingenuity, faux ignorance now.

If someone tells you that they are disabled, then you believe them. Many disabilities are invisible. Someone being disabled does not mean they are on any sort of benefits.
It takes nothing away from you to give someone the benefit of the doubt. You cause more harm by not believing people, and it does come out even if you don't think it does. Subtle little comments can be huge when someone overhears you making them.

Yep, you are a bad person. Horrible actually.

The assessment and award process is based on a great deal more than a self reporting system, as has been explained to you. It’s not just a case of sending in a form reporting your difficulties. You have to be prepared to provide evidence to back up what you say and to demonstrate your level of impairment at face to face interview if necessary.

The people doing the assessing are health professionals sourced from the NHS and receive training in the expected effects of health conditions and disabilities. No-one is saying they get it right every time - far from it as evidenced by the numbers of bad decisions overturned at tribunal - but someone who doesn’t know the extent of the claimants’ difficulties, who is not medically trained and has no idea of what is required for a successful claim is far from the best person to challenge a benefit award made by a professional who has all the facts in front of them.

Disabled people’s lives are difficult enough without being afraid to step outside their front door in case someone ‘dobs them in’.

Yes, exactly. At mandatory reconsideration I was awarded 10 points for mobility, and got standard rate mobility.

1. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 10 points.

I can walk more than 50 metres. What I can't do is walk without pain, discomfort and risk of injury. I have Epidermolysis Bullosa which means my skin is very fragile and tears and blisters easily, especially when walking. It's worse the warmer the weather is. Some days I can walk lots, other days I can barely walk at all either because it's a very hot days or because my feet are so blistered and bleeding. I often have to plan my activities to save my feet, especially in milder weather. It's a minefield planning ever step!

Exactly this. And when you do point it out you get the inevitable ‘why do you need PIP if you can work’. It’s exhausting trying to get the point across that PIP does not and never has assessed work capability. It’s purely an assessment of physical difficulty in carrying out everyday tasks, which informs as to the likely level of disability related costs that person may have.

I believe you’re about 1 in 5 people who claim PIP and work.