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

There's nothing wrong with seeking advice about how to fill out pip, dla etc forms as long as what you are writing is accurate for you or your child.

I received help with how to fill in dla forms. They are overwhelming and complicated and I wanted to make sure I was wording things correctly.

I've never conned anyone into giving me disability benefits. I was refused twice when when I was suffering from ptsd depression and anxiety and I originally was told I wasn't getting lcwra after a triple leg fracture

Sure. Thats what should have always been done. But given the electoral dynamics in the UK I suspect they wont do this until the economic and financial situation is so dire that they wont have a choice.

Only you said it too nicely.
😊

I hope you are sitting down for this because I fear what I am going to tell you will horrify you.
I am in receipt of the higher rate of both PIP components due to having been born without eyes and with multiple joint deformities. I received DLA as a child and as an adult until it was switched to PIP a few years back, so, most of my life. I must confess that, in my younger days but when I was still obviously in receipt of DLA/PIP, I used to go out socialising, often clubbing, with my friends. These nights out did not cause my eyeballs to magically sprout but since, according to you, disabled people can never leave the house or socialise, I have obviously been faking my disability all these years and should report myself to the DWP for benefits fraud immediately! To compound my crime, I have been known to pay to get my nails done, though not for a while as I have a small baby so it would be quite pointless! I work full time so it could have been paid for from my wages but, since the PIP is paid into the same account as my wages and the money from PIP doesn't have a symbol next to it to identify which particular pounds came from PIP, I cannot guarantee that none of those pounds have ever paid for anything fun, enjoyable or, heaven forbid, frivolous! I also occasionally go on holiday rather than spending all the time I am not working sitting in an empty room rocking back and forth like a real disabled person would surely do in their free time. I also go to regular fun events and activities with my little family, but you probably think that the fact I was able to conceive, give birth and be a parent also shows I am faking my disability!
To avoid me having your sleepless nights on my conscience, I should reassure you that the amount in PIP by no means covers all the extra costs relating to my disability, much of which must be covered from my wages, making me considerably worse off than a non-disabled person doing my job. I am still very grateful for PIP as, without it, I could not afford the specialist equipment, technology and support which allows me to live day to day. Without these resources it would be impossible for me to get to work, which means I would no longer be one of the sainted tax payers so beloved by posters on threads like this! Hope that puts your mind at rest.

What NHS trust has the resources for a consultant psychiatrist to see people with mild anxiety and depression? Most people with that diagnosis don't see anyone for mental health beyond their GP.

You wouldn’t want them to though would you? (also a shrink and I know I wouldn’t). It’s non NHS work and there would be a lot of it and it would damage rapport with the person and give them a perverse incentive not to appear better. I think there should be some mechanism for a professional review of this stuff but not from your own care team.

Its Citizens and legal permanent residents.

I work for PIP, she absolutely will not score these.

She will not score on A1 for cooking and prepping, the need for aids has to be because there is significant issues with a pincher grip in both hands, cannot stand without a stool, can open jars or tins with a standard can opener, timers etc consiered when there is evidence of cognitive restrictions, ADHD does not come under that threshold.

She will not score on A2 for taking nutrition. The prompting has to be constant and repeatedly. Skipping meals is not enough, it has to be throughout the meal at every meal or they would not eat at all

Some may score her on A3, but not every one would, again, the need for prompting has to be constant or they would not be taken, the need for alarms depends on the assessor, and even then she will not score 3C, it will be 3B at most. And most wont score as alarms for meds is pretty common amongst everyone.

Again she may score for washing and dressing depending on what evidence of condition she has, prefernce of clothing is not considered. Appropriate clothing comes under learning disabilities, develeopmental and cognitive restrictions, denetia, brain injuries etc. WPrompting to wash and dress if there is evidence of self neglect with mental health input they maybe would score, genberally ADHD alone wont though.

A7 she will not score on, the threshold is very high, dyslexia is not enough, esp if she attending mainstream school and sat exams. The criterea for A7 is significant learning difficulties, cognitive restrictions, or blindness. Even if she finds a sympathetic assessor, she wont score for basic, maybe complex, but its unlikley. 7&8 are the areas hardest to score in, very few score here.

She may score 6, at a push, with a very sympathetic assessor who can push justifications. Which isnt even enough for standard daily living.

But that doesn't mean that the dwp haven't contacted anyone. My GP was contacted every time I applied for lcwra

I've worked in both. There's less difference between them than the hype would suggest IME

The end result of cost cutting is still fewer suitable jobs for disabled people.

We dont bother approaching consultants as we get information maybe 1% of the time. However i do paper based reports for those who cannot attend assessments, and i spend half may day contacting HCPs, social workers, carers, key workers, appointees, SEN contacts, support workers, etc etc to get enough evidence to write a report without ever contacting the claimant. But consultants its pointless 99% of the time, they just dont respond.

I do agree that some people claim PIP and they don't need it. I have anxiety ,depression and autism. When I've had particularly bad breakdowns, I have been told by the NHS that unless I want to kill myself right then and there then there is a 12+ week wait to see a therapist or at least be assessed to see who or what can help going forward.
I work very early in the morning as a cleaner with very little contact with people which helps and gives me a bit of money. But there's some out there who say they have anxiety and can't go out, yet you see them out and the life and soul of the pub.

Ok with the list below which one were you describing?

I’ve worked in the private sector and the biggest impacts have been the 2008 recession and post covid flexibility.

I’m fascinated by the number of posters on this thread who seem to think they know more about our, or our children’s, disabilities and capability (or not) to work than we do ourselves.

No, we have become the welfare system of the world.

There are many ways to manipulate the benefits system and an overflow of Benefits Advisory Centres in high migrant areas.

........Non-UK citizens can claim Universal Credit (UC) if they have settled status, pre-settled status (with a qualifying right to reside), or specific visa types that permit access to public funds
. They must be habitually resident in the UK, not subject to immigration control (or have specific exceptions), and usually have less than £16,000 in savings.

I’ve just checked my PIP award.

I get 1 point for ‘Treatments’. As well as using aids, I have multiple treatments and medications a day, that last hours, and require the presence of a carer. These are evidenced with paperwork.

And I receive 1 point.

I think some people on this thread are being delusional if they think PIP points are easy to come by.

They do what we did. (Another country, another generation).
They help themselves and crack on. X

@AndSoFinally
Fo you write medical notes or reports for the patients you see? I’m assuming so.
As a consultant psychiatrist you must see the most severely affected people and perhaps your notes are more than sufficient evidence of profound mental illness and your views are so trusted (on paper) - given your profession- that the DWP accept what you have written as objective proof of profound mental difficulties?

So you think that:

3 working age taxpayers making the average UK salary of £36k can fund:

Healthcare, Pension, and Benefits of 1 pensioner
Benefits and services of 1 person not working/working PT on UC/PIP etc

Your Maths doesn't add up, which is why the UK has to borrow £150bn/year to fund the difference.

I agree. I have suffered very severely with my MH, and during the worst flare ups when I was incapable of working, I spent most of the time in a fog at home hardly able to do the most basic things.

Sorry I just don’t buy these mental health issues where the ONLY thing the person can’t do is work.

DH and I came from absolutely nothing and such severe hardship to make a good life for ourselves. We've suffered many set backs but continued and strived forwards.

Well I know a lot of people who do enjoy their roles in the care sector and it does benefit their mental health. A lot of people get quite a kick out of helping others and doing a job well. I often think that if I didn’t already have a job I’d love to be a support worker. Very satisfying if you have the right qualities. Peer support work is an avenue that a lot of people with past mental health and substance misuse issues are very effective in and where lived experience can be turned to good. Should be paid better and done more.

Sorry to hijack this. Would a 16 year old who isnt able to do gcses (at a special school), but can manage functional skills (which is gcse level) be considered able to understand written complex information. The functional skills look complex to me.

It's always in the pub! Maybe the DWP should have agents in pubs up, and down the Country, because that seems to be the place that 'PIP benefit fraudsters' seem to congregate, and tell all, and sundry loudly, that they are scamming the system. It seems to be the place of choice for these people!