Benefits explosion- where will it end?

[TheBlueKoala]

"PIP benefits explosion: Anxiety and depression handouts have nearly TRIPLED to £4.3bn since Covid - with autism and ADHD bill hitting £2.2bn and 'back pain' £1.6bn"

Something is not right here. When I have written before on here telling about people I know who claim for anxiety although they have rich social lives (funded by 440£ extra per month from PIP) I've had many people telling me that it's not possible etc. It sure is. How many 16 year olds are claiming PIP for anxiety?

Instead of benefits why not pay for therapy- invest massively in the NHS mental health support so that people with anxiety, adhd and autism can see a therapist regularly to help them. This would make a difference for tje individual and the society. Throwing out money won't.

AINBU- I agree with about
AIBU- No, extra money is always useful

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15510221/PIP-benefits-anxiety-depression-austism-ADHD-pain-Covid-Labour.html

I was suicidal in the noughties and very considered it but stayed due to my kids. I work a bit now and find that work improves my MH.

But what do you suggest those with MH disabilities do?

It's pretty bloody emotional for us disabled people I can tell you!

Employers don't want me because my disabilities mean I can't work 100%, so even though I'm highly skilled and experienced I'm "a burden on the team" 🤬

I don't look visibly disabled, and my condition is intermittent, so I'm exactly one of the people you look at and say "they're clearly faking it! Don't give them benefits!" 🤬

What is the alternative you suggest?

That I should just....what?......die? Then I would be a problem anymore?

I'm feeling pretty emotional about that TBH.

People who seem to think if welfare is cut that disabled people will just pull themselves up by their bootstraps and support themselves have clearly never read a single history book.

You want to go back to the Victorian era? Workhouses and asylums?

Before the welfare state disabled people lived in poverty and then died. Thousands of them.

And some people still said they were faking it and just not trying hard enough 🤦

There’s no bloody jobs for people to get. Countless friends with decades of experience are out of work because there aren’t jobs. Why is no one talking about this the country is in crisis

I'm trying to gain an understanding of why people have such mh issues. PP can ignore me if they want.

I'm asking in good faith.

That's not what top up are for.

There is a difference between a want and a need.

Why do you appear to define PIP claimants and taxpayers as mutually exclusive?

National insurance was designed as a state insurance scheme for people to pay into so they had the financial support and care they needed when too disabled, unwell or old to work.

Many of the people claiming PIP have paid tax for decades. A significant percentage are currently in work and paying tax.

I was a data analyst for a government department, trust me we can spin, cut and slice that data in multiple ways. The DWP cherry picks for headlines. To quote the Dr Ben Goldacre 'It's not as simple as that' This is all just a PR preamble to a cut of funding.

I probably agree with you. The point of my post was to explain that anyone who is getting PIP for anxiety and depression must be very ill.

Although, my ADHD psychiatrist actually also describes my anxiety as ‘severe’.

If people earn a wage they are entitled to get their nails done or their hair done or buy a bottle of wine from their wages - the same as anyone else in employment

The best way to save money from pip is to get specialists who actually understand the specific condition of the claimant rather then a random health professional. Like what does a physiotherapist know about about a congenital heart defect or a complex neurological condition. Then there would be fewer tribunals which must cost an absolute fortune and the majority of the time the decision is overturned at tribunal. If the correct decision was made initially it would save a fortune

Firstly let me point out that I don't claim benefits.

However, my anxiety allows me to have a social life - just that sometimes (often) I don't feel like socialising, and I might cancel at the last minute. You cannot do that with a job. You'll get fired.

So, rather than go on benefits (which I was offered, actually), I chose to build a business and become self employed, and this means that when I'm having a bad day, I can take things easier or even have a day off completely.

The people who are complaining because some people on benefits have social lives have no idea how crippling anxiety can be, and no idea how - a lot of the time - we have to put a face on to LOOK as though everything's ok. Honestly, I'm fantastic at it. To look at me, you'd never know I was rattling with meds, or what was going on in my head.

Why the fuck should they?

Can you please post a link from the Government website that says what benefits should be spent on?
I am on benefits and there is no restrictions at all on what I can spend them on. I can ask in my journal and report back if you want.

This is such nonsense, PIP assessors want to see proper evidence
Not just what someone has told the GP
They would want to aee evidence from Physio,s, OTs etc.

83% of people on PIP are not in work.

By definition, they are not on PAYE.

There isn't - and if you go on somewhere like reddit who have dwp forums and staff who work for the dwp you'll see staff saying that there are no restrictions on what people can spend their money on. That doesn't mean that some people don't use pip for luxuries - of course some people will. I certainly don't

There is a few things on these sort of threads I wish people would understand. Pip is not an out of work benefit, anxiety and an anxiety disorder is not the same thing. When people claim for pip they write down all there conditions it doesn't mean thats why they get pip most disabled people will have mental health conditions that run alongside physical health conditions as being disabled and in constant pain has a real effect on your mental health.

You dont get offered benefits
You apply for them and get awarded them if you meet the criteria
If you can get out and about independently and self care and feed yourself its unlikely you woukd be eligible.

As I understand it the ADHD etc is the fastest growing category that obtain benefits.
Parents get paid. The school can also benefit by extra support. Diagnosis is by ?

The volume of applicants means some genuine cases are mixed up with some who are not.

I suspect the diagnosis and payment direct to the parents needs to change.
As to wider benefits. Wean off the tax credits.

Have you ever been through the process of trying to claim Pip?

I'd had small bouts during periods of horrible MH previously, it had gradually gotten worse.

This is an actual good idea. They should be independent of the persons usual care team and able to provide actual useful suggestions on what would help the person to get back to work (if that is a plausible outcome). It would cost more on the initial assessment but the cost might be saved from all the appeals etc

I hear this all the time, but I’m not sure I agree. My mum retired in October last year after working full time for 40 years. She still wanted a part time job to go alongside her pension and managed to get 2 jobs by the beginning of January. One cleaning houses/offices 2 days a week and another in a nursing home as a carer 1 day a week. She found them both through a job group on Facebook and didn’t even submit a CV. They might not be glamorous or highly paid jobs, but it’s work, and people just don’t want to do it I’m afraid 🤷🏼‍♀️

Just for balance. "Panic about the “rising” benefit bill is bogus: the proportion of GDP spent on working-age benefits has not changed for 40 years; it’s still at 4-5%". Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/29/labour-welfare-changes-politics-stephen-timms

Who says?

That’s absolutely what I’ve paid taxes for over decades. To support people who can’t work full-time due to illness or being disabled. Many want to work but employers won’t offer jobs.

I assume you believe people with bad mental health should die in despair and destitution on the street if they can’t get a job. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

https://museumofhomelessness.org/news/new-research-shows-1611-homeless-people-died-in-2024-a-9-increase-on-the-previous-year