Anyone else feeling sick waiting to see what the PIP cuts will be?

[Somethingthecatdraggedin7]

Wondering if I will still be able to pay for the numerous services and things my disabilities necessitate.
I think, given I have such severe issues, that I may be one of the “lucky” ones as from what I have read so far I would still have enough pip points plus I am older and have stage 4 cancer (separate to my other significant disability) but who knows.
Even if I escape the cull I am sad and scared for others who may lose their award.

I’m really worried after seeing the green paper. I have moderate cerebral palsy and receive enhanced rates of both components but IIRC, I don’t have 4 points on one category but 2/3’s which meet the total.
i am also in the legacy old ESA contribution support group, but if I don’t quantify for PIP Daily living, I may lose the Support group of ESA too
i realise that this has to be passed first but I understand the PIP criteria will change
The more I think about the knock on effect the more nauseous I feel
im shocked by the harshness of the proposed changes

@flapjackfairy My friend is not disabled. That's the point. She does not need assistance with anything.

I want the money being given to people like her to be given to those who have genuine needs and who deserve more than they are currently getting.

But do you know this for sure? I have a similar friend who to the vast majority of people looks well and capable of working. She too swims and goes to the gym and out for lunch. What most people don’t see is the agonising pain she is in at other times. The hours/days she has to spend in bed. The days in hospital having infusions. The anxiety and insomnia and other side effects that come from the shit ton of drugs and pain relief she has to take.
All these things she doesn’t talk about. Doesn’t complain about or so much as mention. Only her closest friends know just how bad things can get. But to the majority she will look fit and well despite being anything but.

@Baconmapleits worth listening to her speech on you tube. It’s not too long but does mention this

The friend may have a lot of health issues but where the PIP line is drawn is the question. Should the state be providing for her difficulties or are they just part of life? I have several debilitating issues and have been advised many times to apply for PIP as I would likely be successful (but have not). I would probably score 2s and 3s in many categories but probably not a 4 so this guidance rules people like me out. I am happy with that. I am lucky to manage with some aids, a lot of support from my husband and plenty of rest.

I hope the changes lead to better support for the most needy and that you / they will get the support needed with less stress and difficulty.

Less association with a benefit also used a lot by exaggerators is a good thing, and they do exist in my personal experience. Not fraudulent, just exaggerating for ££.

Anyone can become disabled at any time in their lives. It could happen to you tomorrow.

Worth repeating.

This.

It’s that kind of causal disablism that is fuelling all these horrific claims of people getting PIP when they shouldn’t etc etc.

I am on the highest rates of PIP (both elements) indefinitely / ongoing. I have hidden disabilities- lupus, Addisons, Sjogrens, asthma, bladder issues etc etc. Alongside the obvious issues of my disabilities themselves I’ve also become extremely isolated because a) people actually don’t like me to talk about my issues - I mean fair enough, it does suck but it’s a huge part of my life and b) I’m actually scared people are going to judge me for receiving PIP / having a motability car etc etc. I just don’t tell anyone at all, ever, that I get PIP now. I’ve had long term friends seem to distance themselves from me which seemed to coincide with me getting my car, some of whom I did confide in about getting my PIP award (I don’t tell anyone since then). People get very jealous and judgey about it all - which is absolutely ridiculous because to get an award like mine (very rare) you have to have a shit tonne of evidence and reason to get it.

I try and make the most of any good days I have. Today has been a good day, so I drove to a retail park (parked in a disabled bay) and had a browse round b and m and treated myself to some lunch. Maybe I should just sit in a corner and cry myself to sleep? Are we not able to enjoy our lives like other people?

Other days I can’t get out of bed and take the strongest painkillers you can get, suffering from incontinence and severe bladder issues and all sorts. And yes I was honest about both types of days on my form.

We need to stop having this very rigid view about what / who a disabled person is and what their life looks like. It’s very narrow minded.

Well obviously the medical experts think she .If you think she is playing the system then have the balls to tell her to her face and report her for benefit fraud .

My son will lose out on the daily living component because although he scores high enough to receive it none of his scores are 4s (think lots of mid scores as opposed to one high score) he isnt a scrounger or a cheat and works with the support of me and his wider family. I work full time so cannot claim carers allowance for the times when I need to take unpaid leave to support him with appointments, lifts, medical. Labour are a disgrace.

Nice to see the benefit bashing gang feel emboldened to spout their nasty ableism even on a thread in mumsnetters with disabilities which was set up specifically to talk about how scared we all are.
You must be so proud that you have knocked us lying and cheating drains on society. Well done.

There are unforeseen costs associated with disabilities .
say if someone needs a professional carer they give their care component away then what have they got to meet any other care needs they have like more expensive foods or incontinence products. What about unforeseen costs like things are ruined or broken or more expensive clothes that wear out faster. If they can’t work what can they do to keep occupied? even things to do like watch tv or read a book cost money. Those costs can’t be met if LCWRA is reduced or removed.
also expected to buy furniture, replace carpets, grants to give them aren’t fit for purpose, They poor quality products that wear out or aren’t suitable.

I’m really sorry - this does sound very harsh when you explain what the reality means for your specific situation.

@flapjackfairy @Pigeonqueen

My friend knows how I feel about it; we have agreed to disagree as we have fallen out about it in the past.

She does have a medical condition which does not affect her life at the moment. It may do in future. However she claims that the thought of it makes her so depressed that she can't do everyday tasks. She is open about the fact that's not the case. She sees the money as 'compensation' for her diagnosis.

I absolutely support genuine claimants getting the support they need and more. If weeding out people who don't need it helps achieve this then that's a good thing. I'm amazed that there are people on Mumsnet who refuse to believe that anyone is claiming who shouldn't be. It absolutely happens and it needs to be stopped.

I really don’t understand the cuts. We’ve just hired someone - government funded to get more people to claim benefits, all the benefits, including PIP. Go figure….

I agree, it’s vile. What is that saying about the measure of a civilised society is how it treats its most vulnerable.

Well you can help stop it by reporting her for benefit fraud and give evidence that she has admitted it to you. Simple.

Oh some of the people on these threads are too superior to ever become disabled. Didn’t you know? 🙃

I don't think people are bashing the most disabled, they're bashing those that exaggerate issues in order to obtain benefits, there are many that do it, many of us know them. It's not the same thing.

If you truly believe your friend is claiming fraudulently then you should report her. Of course a very small amount of people exaggerate on their form etc but the vast majority do not and we are losing sight of this. You cannot see someone out for a coffee / doing their shopping / going for a swim (which many with MS do for example as part of their treatment for their disability! - and say they’re claiming fraudulently. I honestly think some people would only be happy if they only gave PIP to people who had the physical capacities of Stephen Hawking. The disability spectrum is far wider and more complex than people like to believe.

Many of us have explained in detail that the assessment process is very robust and the interviews are designed to extract information about the reality of the claimant’s life, day to day, without the claimant being aware that the assessor is testing to see how consistent their difficulties truly are.

If you don’t want to hear that, it’s on you. But the reality is that not many people get awarded PIP without needing to appeal.

PIP is hard to claim and the assessors can be absolute arseholes, agree that is a truth.

Some of the 3m claimants do lie and exaggerate their issues to get a successful claim. Noone knows how many, these cases barely show up in fraud stats.

These truths can coexist and exposing exaggerators is not a bash on those who honestly need the benefit. Noone wants to bash genuine claimants and refusing to acknowledge that some claimants are not genuine doesn't help anyone.

This!!! this the rise in claims from 18-24 is due to the education system failing our children

Think of the money they’d save, buts I imagine an awful lot of people would suddenly have worsening conditions, which would increase the points!

When I said compensation I meant that I have incurred significant mental distress and physical ailments that I have to deal with every single day and night I am exhausted and that money helps to make my life a little bit easier