One in six PIP claimants have no extra costs linked to their disability

[Allseeingallknowing]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/40693771/pip-claimants-disability-benefit/
So, can money be saved here?

Huh?

How do they know?

link please

I noticed that it says the majority of those identified as not having extra costs are teenagers but if you asked my teen she would say she doesn't have additional costs related to her disability, but I can give you a list of the things that cost us more because of it. Kids just don't have any concept of what their parents are paying out for.

Exactly. I don't claim PIP for DD but her ADHD has been really expensive. Just silly examples like 20 water bottles a term, and sensory-friendly shoes, all the way up to specialised tutoring so she doesn't fail everything.

There are loads of additional expenses.
Society is becoming so nastily ableist and it breaks my heart. Why can’t people appreciate how lucky they are that they aren’t disables rather than attacking and belittling those that are.

It's not just extra costs it's the limited earning potential a disability can cause.

I hope my autistic teenager does manage to get a job in the future but it's unlikely to be full time or highly paid.

She takes a number of medications thst will need to be paid for, transport to appointments, higher electricity bills as always either too hot or too cold and a fan or heater running 24/7. Lights always on even all night as fear of the dark, sensory issues require specific clothing, dietary issues need specific, more expensive foods, lost items, private therapy as needed (£100+ for 50 minutes I kid you not!) etc etc. She would say she has no extra costs because this is her normal and we pay.

It’s from a Resolution Foundation survey

More info here https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/press-releases/pip-reform-that-better-matches-payments-to-costs-and-needs-could-save-money-while-working-better-for-claimants/

I haven't read the Sun link but suspect a lot of the context of the report is lost.

Five out of six (84%) of PIP recipients do report extra costs.

RF recommends a function test should remain at the heart of the PIP system, but that assessments should also include a discussion of what extra costs claimants experience and what would help them participate more in the wider world. Also that
there should be three elements that a decision maker can award a claimant: an ongoing cash element to contribute to additional costs; a capped one-off payment for capital items such as aids and adaptations; and a participation element, usually delivered through local services, designed to build claimants’ capacity to engage with society

Useful thread here where the RF presents its findings.

https://tbsky.app/profile/resolutionfoundation.org/post/3mxvoueeu7s2b

They may not have ongoing incremental costs to the degree of their PIP payments, but there will be a lot of upfront costs like the cost of a wheelchair, a stair lift, remodelling their house to accommodate their disability etc.

If that’s how you want to play it, how about we have a system that reimburses actual additional costs because of disability. I guarantee the bill will be higher.

My daughter is disabled. It’s incredible how the little additional costs add up.

Strongly agree. This thread will soon attract the ableists and benefit bashers.

Oh, the Sun! It must be true!

Hmm I note it says that many of those who report no additional costs are 16-24.

I have a disabled daughter and I pay most of her additional costs so she is not really aware of them.

i’d swop pip for the nhs providing wheelchairs in a heartbeat though. Her last wheelchair was 8 thousand.

That is an excellent point. Thank you.

Also reported in many other papers The Times, I etc and on social media!

I have a son who potentially will need benefits for the rest of his life due to disability.
He’ll have no concept of how much more things cost due to his disability as it’s never been any different in his eyes.

I’ll be shocked if he’s ever able to work full time and honestly any type of paid employment would be a huge win for him as it currently looks unlikely.
The propaganda war on the disabled is heartbreaking & I worry so much for my son when we die.

Extra costs presumably refers to things like petrol as they might have to drive more, buying disability aids etc. Surely there are many conditions that don't require this stuff but still massively limit the person's earning capacity? So sick of the ableism on Mumsnet, people just can't stand to see other people being supported. You're all crabs in a bucket.

It’s not the best source, the original press release is below, from the Resolution Foundation.

Definitely no agendas to bash disabled people there. No siree.

I'm trying to think of a disability serious enough for PIP that wouldn't have any extra costs. I'm failing.

When political reps have no vision, no solutions and even no principles, the one thing they can offer people is to take something OFF someone else. The 'someone else ' is critical, it allows people to bay for blood whilst feeling they are fine and dandy, but victims.

Couldn't agree more. So sick of these threads, and the ill-informed nastiness that gets posted on them.

Yeah, I’m sure the sun is a really objective source of information. I’m not clicking on the link to found out what data they have bastardised to reach this conclusion though.

Quite.

Well I’m one of them. My DH earns well, I can only work part time due to my disability but we can afford to have our 2 autistic children in private school as they couldn’t cope in mainstream. However, disability or not, I would still only work part time as I like to be able to attend all the children’s sports events etc.

I had never claimed at all but when the 20% VAT came in I was so pissed off that we were being asked to pay even more just because our school system is so crap for SEND children that I claimed for everything! I claim PIP for me and DLA for the 2 children. We are now over £1000 better off each month. If Labour are going to screw over those that try to do the right thing then I’m going to jump right on that benefits bandwagon. And we can now afford a luxury holiday every year…gives me great pleasure and a huge screw you to Labour.

The ill informed nastiness of the heavily left leaning Resolution Foundation?