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.

OP - I think you have had a really hard time here. The challenge is that medical assessments are partly based on what someone tells a doctor . So we you say you cannot walk 20m and demonstrate that you “cannot” walk 20 m - the report says was unable to walk 20m.
It is possible for a dishonest person to have medical reports exaggerating a disability.

Personally I think you should share your concerns . The tax payer cannot manage the current levels of benefits and the truly deserving are still in need.

Depends whether the satisfaction of being a social justice warrior will outweigh personal feelings of guilt at having put a family member in a difficult financial position I guess

Op I get it, some people exaggerating their issues to get the higher rate pip so they can have a nice car ! I’ve seen it happen extremely close first hand

Am kind of relieved to read this.

My DD receives PIP (ASD, ADHD. Chronic and acute anxiety and depression plus related mH issues) and it as scaffolded her into conpleting an Access Course and attending university ….so I have been worried people on the outside look at her and think her award is too high too, or that she will lose it one day.

She’s been home from uni since mid dec and barely left her room due to autistic burnout, anaemia, weight loss, vit D deficiency (as never leaves her rooms) and serious dental infections as she simply hasn’t been looking after herself in halls at all. We’re moving her into a flat in Feb to share with Dh (change of job location via promotion but opportune as it means he can be with her 2-4 days a week and I can do weekend check ins). She is genius level IQ, can physically get herself to uni etc (with safety net of taxis), and may one day be able to hold down a civil service or academic job in an Nd inclusive department with WFH, BUT she really cannot live alone without monitoring - however to people like OP she probably doesn’t seem deserving of the award.

I don’t think people realise that the glimpses they get into peoples lives are just that, glimpses, and that behind closed doors on a minute to minute basis these individuals’ lives can be horrendously difficult.

I live a normal life but I am also in incredible pain most of the time. I don’t claim anything (one of the reasons is the fear of people like you), but just looking at me go about my day you wouldn't know the depth of pain I am in. Alternatively I could just take to my bed and never leave the house, is that what you’d demand from your relative?

OP it does sound like the person in question has been subjected to rigorous assessment and to leave well alone.

Understandably this is an emotive topic. I am sometimes in a position to support people to make benefits claims at initial stage. But I also regularly decline request to support PIP and for criminal compensation, both of these are declined due to service policy (NHS) because people request reports for PIP for MH that are treatable within our service.

These are distinctly separate from what are classed as life long severe and enduring MH diagnosis - which do get letters of support for PIP from colleagues in adjacent teams.

It does surprise me sometimes what people think they can claim PIP for, and who requests it varies quite a bit over socioeconomic groups. Benefit fraud does happen and it’s not always your stereotypical ‘bad back’ or ‘forgetting’ to report changes to who is living and earning in the household.

OP I hope you can reconcile whatever is going on for you and move past this

Refocus your efforts on those with excessive wealth, yet paying minimal taxes! Therein where the problem lies… tax avoidance costs more than benefits cheats

We did not apply for DLA for DS1 for 9 years after diagnosis because of stigma. It got to the point where we simply could no longer afford the many and varied therapies and medical needs he has that we bit the bullet and did so.

One of DS's friends is actually very severely affected by autism, adhd and mental health issues and his parents won't apply also because of stigma. I have heard of many others who say the same.

Think people dont understand that PIP is a Personal Independence Payment - emphasis on Independence’- without it many people really would never leave the house. It is being used in our case to scaffold my DD into something approximating independent, ‘normal’ life (whatever ‘normal’ is). Money for extra counselling, therapies, Ubers has been pivotal for her and knowing she is paying for it herself - not using dad’s money- has helped her esteem and meant she engages with therapy more.

Would recommend exploring as assessment as even a small payment helps and may mean you could try private pain management therapies?

I don't support abuse of the welfare system at all but I wouldn't dob this person in. What you see may not reflect their reality. You don't know what it costs them to do 'normal' things. You don't know how long it takes them to recover from doing those things. I'd trust the assessment on this one.

Yes this. What a nasty individual they must be. It’s people like OP that has made me fear pursuing financial help because I live a normal life (walking, working, a bit of weeding in the garden etc) but it comes at a price (excruciating constant pain). The alternative would be to become housebound and bed ridden, which I refuse to do. If I did get pip OP would no doubt stab me in the back with the authorities because of making wrong assumptions.

You didn't deserve the vicious, spiteful comments you got from so many 'no' voters. It was them, not you, that came across as rather unpleasant people.

Same here. I have days when I can potter round a shop (always in pain) and I have whole weeks where I can’t get out of bed. It’s people like OP that put me off claiming PIP even though I’m entitled to it. I’d be terrified to be seen in public again if I got it.

This. Some people are projecting too much to these kind of threads. They might be disabled and hate it that people don't believe their struggles, which ofcourse I understand must be hard. But on the flip side there are people who do take advantage of a system where you do not need a formal diagnosis- you just need to state how your perceived disability affects your life. The doctor can only attest to what you are saying- so no proof possible.

Some workshy people will use this to get PIP. Then again some people who deserve PIP will get rejected. It's up to the PIP assessor really to decide- an arbitrary system that can award fraudsters and punish disabled people and in the end also punish the tax payer.

No need to tell anyone you are receiving PIP, why would you? If you are disabled and it's affecting your quality of life then please apply. The OP and other posters as myself have nothing against disabled people receiving PIP. It's fraudelent behaviour that we condone.

People like you make me nervous about going out with aids and applying for pip which would greatly help me with Muscular dystrophy. You don’t know what you don’t know and it’s scary how quickly you jump to report report.

Thanks. I did try and get something a while back but was denied (my GP report was very basic as GP didn't refer me for any scans or further investigations, just prescribed temporary meds). It was gutting at the time as I find working very painful but decided against appealing as I was worrying, suppose someone (like staff at DWP checking up on me) and saw me walking or carrying shopping. I decided I’d rather be in pain but a free agent because I fear people like the OP, I don’t think I could go out or do a bit of gardening freely again. I am seeing a physiotherapist soon who I hope can help.

Worth thinking about why claims might increase - extensive NHS waiting lists, the legacy of covid and the general cost of living struggle/housing crisis that causes or exacerbates health conditions.
Unequal societies like ours always see poorer health outcomes.

This is how I feel. I’m in such a bad way now though. (Muscular dystrophy)

Your mind will be blown when you find out how many billions are paid to private landlords each year via housing related benefits!

I didn't even know about DLA until I received it. It was someone at Cahms who helped me fill out a form asking for SEN school that apparantly took it upon herself to apply for me. I can't work due to DC having meetings and being off school for mh reasons. Since my dh earns well I didn't ask if there was any help to get.

PIP eligibility isn't limited to life long conditions.

I have read (I’m pretty sure on MN), that it is not unheard of that DWP can monitor people to see how much activity they are doing. They would see me walking to the shops, carrying a bag of shopping, putting the bins out, getting on a train unassisted etc. What they won’t see or feel is how much pain I am in doing those things, or the recuperation it takes after I’ve done those things. So I have chosen to just suffer but be free to go about my day without worrying about authorities or back stabbers.

I work with someone who claims PIP, he travels into central london everyday and works in a busy office in a technical role, he lives alone and owns a flat just outside london. He's independent and doesn't have carers or additional support. Somehow he claims PIP for autism. No idea how as he is perfectly capable of leading a normal life, working ft in a well paid job. Am I ringing the PIP people to shop him? Well no, he has been assessed and whoever did the assessment thought he met the criteria so he can claim it. Maybe there's something not obvious that he doesn't share, either way he has been assessed and met their criteria.

What would you get out of shopping someone exactly? You can just ignore and trust that whoever assessed them decided they met the criteria. There's no moral dilemma, ignore and get on with your day.

I'm going to go against the majority and say yes report. Having fought long and hard to get PIP - particularly the mobility element, it's gauling to hear someone has that who can reliably walk long distances. I have to use a wheelchair to go any distance if I can get out of the house!
We have a certain duty to report fraud if we have enough information to do so. If we're wrong, then no harm done, but if we're not, we're protecting the benefit for those who genuinely need it.......
This is our money that is going to pay for this, and everyone who fraudetly claims spoils it for those who genuinely need it.