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’m taking ADHD stimulants and antidepressants. I started on the ADHD meds first which is how I know they helped with anxiety.

They want more evidence that just the GP. Do other medical professionals risk their careers so they don't 'fall out' with their patients too?

And that’s where it’s a crap shoot being reliant on benefits that at any whim of a politician (imagine if Farage gets in!) could be cut. It’s very scary.

If my DC had an illness or disability this is one of the prime reasons (the other being I believe the right work can be therapeutic) that I would do all I could to make make sure that they did work and have their own income to whatever degree they could. Same as not being reliant on a man’s income as a woman.

I 100% accept that there are people who cannot work at all in any job ever (and that some of those will have ASD or a mental health condition) and need to be looked after by the state and I think that they should get enough to meet their needs and to have dignity. I am also wholly supportive of PIP to help people meet the costs of disability and ideally make it possible to work.

The bit I think we are missing is that we might be too easily accepting that young people with treatable or manageable conditions can’t work without ensuring that they do access treatment and support that might make work possible.

The figures really don't bear that out. There are people with terminal illnesses who have been refused Pip

No, can you post where it says someone is not allowed to spend it on nails. Can you post where it says what you are and are not allowed to spend it on.
I have had a review about my benefits where they looked at my bank statements. They did not say anything at all about me shopping in Hobbycraft. Nothing at all.
My bills are not much so I usually have money left over. I can spend that how I want.

Hmm... If it's skilled, ASD specific therapy, perhaps. DD1 couldn't access EMDR, for example, and her psychologist said that it's not really recommended with ASD because people with ASD, generally, don't reprocess in the same way as people who are NT, so bringing memories to the forefront of their mind just makes them distressed.

That's one of the scariest things about having a disabled child who is unlikely to be able to work. Knowing that his future could potentially be in the hands of a government such as Reform.

Also absolutely no one who is not a citizen of the UK should get ANY benefits.

If they cannot earn sufficient to support themselves and their families.... THEN LEAVE .
I speak as one from an immigrant mother who worked damned hard all her life to contribute to a country that gave her refuge.

Austerity made a massive difference in my sector.

All the part timers were managed out completely, so this who could only manage a few hours a week (disabled and also those with caring responsibilities) had to leave.

Fewer assistants and trainees were taken on so experienced staff had no one to delegate tasks to and had to do everything.

More work per staff member meant more and longer shifts were expected, more evenings, more weekends.

On call rotas went from voluntary to compulsory.

On call went to occasional call out to up all night every time.

Working longer days meant more adjustments were needed to get though the day.

Fewer staff meant shorter breaks or none at all and so less recovery.

Fewer staff meant less flexibility with annual leave to manage bad days so more days off sick.

Etc etc etc.

Then the experienced people started reaching retirement age and left and there's been no training up new people so there's not enough experienced people in the country to do the job and it's all a bit fucked.

Can they? I’ve not found this,

My dd19 had been having therapy of some sort since she was 15, it’s made jack all difference. Nada. She’s AUDHD

It is unsettling that the fast pace of life and immediate tech gratification have resulted in many simply not able to function and cope with everyday situations or bring bored without the crutches. X can't sit still for a minute, must seek a diagnosis of adhd; Y becomes angry and aggressive when not able to control their gaming time so autistic/ND issues related. As a teacher, parent and just someone older who has observed behaviour!

Once concerned, medical support sought, resulting in investigations, therefore X and Y are being assessed for ..... it becomes more real and factual that X could have a medical condition rather than too much screen time neglect and terrible sugar filled diet. Y is being assessed for ..... although they have never had boundaries, positive behaviour modelling.

There is a difference between genuine special needs and those which come from background neglect but the outcome is the same; these kids need help.

So, a mix of modern life, family lifestyle and fundamentally intrinsic reasons has resulted in a huge increase of claimants IMO. Xxx

PiP requires more than a patient says letter from the GP.

I agree. Benefits and welfare should be limited to citizens only. But isn't this already the case?

Well I hope if you have a stroke or something similar. You don't claim any benefits

Public or private sector?

Well at the very least it would hamper their ability to study TikToks explaining how to claim pip etc.

And my original point was that she has lied and exaggerated any struggles because everybody does it apparently, this is a 16 year olds opinion so it makes you wonder how many adults think the same way

There are only more protections for employees in theory. In practice things are often different. Those at the lower end of the pay scale and social spectrum find it more difficult to force their employer to follow the law. Ultimately, if you can't afford to take your employer to court then you're unlikely to be able to enforce the law. See the Darlington nurses. Many more nurses complained, it was only those in a position to be resilient enough to see the tribunal through who carried on. There will be even more women than those who complained who don't really want to have to strip in front of a man as a condition of employment.

These conversations are so focussed on 'career' type jobs but there are more jobs which are not 'career' path. They're min wage, working class jobs. Like care home assistant. I've spent a lot of time in care homes in the past couple of years and the people who do those jobs need a huge amount of resilience given the physical needs and sometimes behaviour of the people they are caring for. The idea that doing this job would improve anyone's mental health is bonkers! These are the jobs where there are vacancies and not surprisingly they're hard, hard jobs where there isn't much flexibility (you need to be physically fit, and to meet the needs of those in care, they can't work from home or alter shifts around too much). Those who do those jobs for the pay they get are saints but not everyone can do it without it affecting them. It would drive me absolutely mad, I don't have the patience.

Do these people get excellent pensions, wellbeing days, teambuilding, CPD? Do they fuck.

Not sure why people keep using GDP for these types of comparisons. What matters is % of welfare payments relative to tax revenue collected.

Welfare as a % of tax revenue collected has been growing too quickly when combined with the sizeable debt service costs the UK has (£120bn/year or about 9% of all tax revenue collected).

Total tax revenue collected = £1.1T

£323bn/year = c30% of all tax revenue

Also, keep in mind the UK is currently borrowing £150bn/year (5% deficit) just to fund all of this welfare largesse while growing at sub 1.5%.

This is not economically sustainable.

Yes go on Youtube and learn how to con the system via the tutorials on there. If you're adept it can be done.
The GP is the start of the "SYSTEM" And our GP's are failing as are our MH services.

I understand autism presents in everyone differently. I know a few autistic people who work but understand that the data shows most people with autism.

Does she struggle with managing basic tasks?

Could we means test the pensioner benefits and pip. And do a tapering off as to not hurt work incentives?

It is only conning the system if people are lying. Using the right words to accurately describe your struggles is not conning the system. Most people need help filling in PIP forms as you need to word things a certain way.

Not if they write that on the application, no.

But plenty of people who’s only diagnosis is mild anxiety and depression are claiming PIP.

I know this as I am their consultant psychiatrist.

Sometimes patients ask me for a letter of support for their application, but the overwhelming majority don’t.

Not once, in 20 odd years of practice, have the DWP ever contacted me to ask me to verify the information a patient has given them, or to ask me whether I think they meet the eligibility criteria for application. Not once.

My heart goes out to you honestly. I think I would just have to work myself to the ground to try to make some independent provision like some kind of trust or something but appreciate that may be impossible whilst also caring. A rough hand to be dealt indeed.