Trigger Warning To actually feel suicidal PIP bashing

[Orcadolp]

Yet another message about PIP and how easy it is to claim and how they know loads of people who claim and don’t need it.

I claim due to epilepsy, narcolepsy and fibromyalgia. I have up to 20 seizures a week on top of the effects from the narcolepsy and fibro. I worked as long as I could until I was let go on medically grounds and I fought and fought for that job. I also claim ESA.

my husband who was a teacher was diagnosed with MS 3 years ago and had to give up work so now also claims PIP and ESA. He managed to work full time in the first year then part time and now he can’t. He was also let go on heath grounds

Sometimes to look at us both, the few times my husband manages to walk without an aid we look fine.

Yep remembering the fight we both had to claim pip and ESA and the loss of income of the face we can’t live as we used to and we don’t know what the future can hold- I can live with that

what I can’t deal with is the media, politicians, posters on sites such as this slagging off PIP and the people who claim it.

And before these posters start saying “oh I didn’t mean you” - yes you do. You are talking about people who look ‘fine’ or ‘have enough money they don’t need it’ or ‘omg someone on pip that I know has gone on holiday, how dare they”.

I look fine, we went on holiday to Spain last year that we saved up for for 3 years but don’t let that ruin a good story. We struggle month to month and have to sacrifice a lot. But again I can cope with that.

every time I see one of these story’s I just feel like a drain on society and think people who just be happier if we were not here (disabled people). It is pulling me further and further down and this morning I actually thought about how to end my life. I just feel useless and a total drain.

They’ll be here soon too to say they don’t mean people like you, they mean people with XYZ (insert an excuse there)

The benefits bashing on here can get really bad at times, and I’m sorry it’s impacting you.

You should probably not open the posts if it affects you like this. i would recommending steering well clear- it’s not sensible if you feel this fragile.

I’m really sorry and I appreciate how exhausting this is for you. As PP says, the “I don’t mean people like you” folk might turn up. Don’t waste your energy. ❤️

What a bunch of unpleasant keyboard warriors would be happy about isn't something you should worry about either way.
You have people who love and value you, and your life has worth.
There are threads on here this week attacking all sorts of people. Women, disabled people, people of certain ethnicities and religions. Nasty viscious posts from people who have very little knowledge and even less compassion.
They are the problem in our society, not you.
Take heart from the fact that their views are extreme and not reflected in the majority.

I also claim pip and feel exactly the same.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way OP. The maturity of people I meet and kind and decent and want to live in a civilised society where the sick and vulnerable are cared for.

The media (mainstream and social) seek engagement and, sadly, measured, reasonable views don’t bring traffic/attention.

I don’t doubt how upsetting it is to encounter misinformation and disinformation. I suggest you try and distance yourself from it and hold on to thoughts about the huge number of people in society who do want you to have your needs met by the benefit system.

Think is they do mean people like me. I as to look at us you would not know. And I am sure stuff has been said about us by people who know of us but don’t know us if you know what I mean.

funny these people who bash us never go after tax avoidance. Whole lot more money there to be saved.

I do wonder if they have ever seen a pip form. That in itself is a totally nightmare.

I’m sorry you feel this way, but you don’t get to close down debate by saying it makes you feel ‘suicidal’. That doesn’t work.

The thread was primarily about the ballooning benefits bill and the posts were in no way suggesting that all PIP claimants are fraudulent.

Both DH and I work, we have lower outgoings than most. We haven been abroad for 10 years because we couldn’t afford it. All being well we will next year.

It’s taken us 11 years in full time work to save for something you’ve managed to save for in 3 years on benefits. Yes, I feel this is unfair.

OP, have you got details for Samaritans in case you ever get that low again? I think MN normally pop along to signpost people to sources of support in cases like this.

You and your husband are the perfect example of what these benefits were designed for. Fuck what anyone else thinks. Their opinion doesn’t matter until they start paying your bills.

Also when will people like this realise the small amount who do claim PIP fraudulently don’t care what others think as if they had any amount of conscience they would not do it.

It’s the ones that claim and need it that get upset and feel horrid. Most of us on PIP hate the fact we on PIP and would return to work tomorrow if we could. Everytime someone asks what I do for a living my heart sinks.

Those that are in work are mostly struggling to be there or claim PIP to help them work in the first place.

How would we not know though? If you have 20 seizures a week thats 3 a day? And your husband is so physically disabled he can’t work? So how could you appear totally normally outside the house? Just curious.

I agree. The benefits bill is spiralling out of control. With the rise of AI its going to be easier for people to claim. We just cannot afford it. Everyone thinks everyone else needs to step up, pay more tax etc. Everyone else - just not them.

My husband worked for the first 2 and a half years we were saving for that holiday and we had £200 to pay off when he stopped.

Hear, hear! Totally with you, OP. Having to go through the process every 3 years for my son has taught me it really isn't that easy to claim PIP. And I am sick to my back teeth of people who only believe in visible disabilities. Every news site all the time these days is egging our government on to cut off benefits just like that. I am so frightened for my child, who is actually an adult now but will never be capable of going through this procedure without help. What happens when I'm not here to help?

Actually it really is newspapers (I'm especially looking at you, Telegraph and Mail) and politicians suggesting all non-visible disabilities are undeserving or don't exist.

Honestly OP I think it’s best to step away from these threads as much as possible. Too many people are lacking in any sort of empathy for anyone whose experience doesn’t directly mirror their own, and you will not change those people’s minds. Haters gonna hate - I know it’s hard to tune this stuff out but you need to do so for the sake of your own health.

YANBU I feel exactly the same especially as I claim for "anxiety", I've been asked on here exactly what needs I have to be claiming PIP.

I’m sorry op.

Because I don’t have 3 seizures every day. Some days I have none some I have 6. And believe it or not epileptics actually look normal in between seizures.

I said the “few” times my husband manages to walk without an aid. He has flares up that last months were he needs a walking aid or a chair and then he may have a months remission were the symptoms are not completely gone but enough for him to walk very short distances. It also affects his memory and gives him massive pain.

Funny enough not many employers will employ someone who won’t be able to work for months on end and but can the odd week of month here and there. Which was highlighted when his job let him go.

I think the issue is there now seems to be so many people with ‘invisible disabilities’ which rely on self reporting, who then go on to say they ‘appear perfectly normal outside the house’.

Do you really not see why this raises suspicion?

Add the joys of a PIP tribunal.
I happened to look in my medical notes recently I’d been for a smear and someone who didn’t know me, who hadn’t read my notes put ‘Petula managed to walk two steps very proficiently between her wheelchair and the treatment table.’ It sounded like a Little Britain sketch.
The fact was I was embarrassed and should have asked for help, and even those two steps cost me.
I wake up in the morning having dreamt about going out running or driving my car and I wake up happy because I think it’s just happened and then I realise I was dreaming.
I dream of all the things I used to moan about - bring stuck in a traffic jam, a queue to get out of a car park, being in a crowded area doing some shopping, and I wish I’d never have taken any of it for granted.
I get spoken to as if I haven’t a brain cell in clinical settings, even loved ones get frustrated with me and feel I could try a bit harder to get a bit better.
When I see headlines or yet another thread on here I do think about what plan I’d put in place to pop off if I needed to.
Sadly it’s a plan a lot of disabled people have and it’s not an emotional one it’s a practical one.
Someone on the other thread said we should be made to show receipts for what we’ve spent - it gets worse.
And I do have a few friends who are benefits badgers who say well Petula we know what’s wrong with you we don’t mean you.
Funny that….

While it’s sad and understandable you feel this way I think it’s up to you to manage your response to the discussion because the government is going to be making changes to the welfare system, there are numerous reviews underway, lots of people are very unhappy with the status quo, times are tough for the country financially, the budget is in two weeks, there’ll be an election in the next couple of years and welfare is going to remain a regular part of political coverage for the foreseeable future.

People use forums like this one to talk about things that are bothering them. You’ve done it here. Posters with different views are allowed to and will continue to do the same. Posts like this are trying to shut down discussion about a huge issue and can look like emotional blackmail.

Hey OP, I’m so sorry for your experiences. I am really glad you posted though, I think often the sort of people who comment on those threads aren’t thinking about the real people they are talking about. I think they need to be faced with that.