DWP Benefits

[Caffeine Fiend]

PIP is not an easy benefit to get. There are people who are genuinely disabled denied it time and time again.

The trials and tribulations people need to go through to receive what is essentially not a payment equal to a wage is alot.

Its also not a guaranteed payment, some people will get a lifetime award but that is not common. Youl be expected to reapply every 2 / 3 / 5 years and can again just have it stopped whilst you go through the appeals process.

Are there people milking the system absolutely but for every person being paid the benefit fraudulently there are hundreds if not thousands not being paid what they are entitled to.

I work within the system and there are many many problems but folk claiming fraudulently is so low down the list of issues that I see.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

In this case 'benefits' apparently includes non-cash benefits such as the NHS and education. A convenient distortion by a right-wing, government friendly 'think tank' to rile people up about the benefits system in order to justify yet another attack on benefits claimants.

Welfare cuts worth billions planned by ministers

The changes, affecting hundreds of thousands of people from 2025, would save £4bn in welfare payments.

www.bbc.co.uk

In June 2022, over 40% of Universal Credit claimants were in work. The benefit system is just as much a corporate welfare system to allow companies to maximise profits by paying minimal wages.
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Given the general acknowledgement of how complicated the benefits system is, it's amazing how certain some people are that other people are getting benefits that they are not entitled to.

The thing with disability benefits is that there is such a stigma attached to them for many.

I know of several people in FT work who are getting PIP and wouldnt want anyone to know.

It is a really complex subject. I also feel the life of riley situation that is so often banded about isnt true. Benefit caps mean post 2017 you can only get means tested benefit for 2 children. No more.

Its extremely difficult now to be in no form of work at all. You can sanctioned easily too if not complying with the requirements set out to you.

If anyone thinks its easier and youd be better off on benefits why are you even working?

The majority of people on Universal Credit are in work. Employers have no incentives to pay a decent wage because of top up benefits.

A massive chunk of UC paid out goes into the pocket of landlords. Just think if more people were in social housing (which isnt readibly available) that money would be going back into the pockets of LA and the government.

Its all a shit show and yes there are people who milk the system but there are so many more issues to solve.

 

[Moth]

Over half of all households in this country get more in benefits than they pay in tax.

In this case 'benefits' apparently includes non-cash benefits such as the NHS and education. A convenient distortion by a right-wing, government friendly 'think tank' to rile people up about the benefits system in order to justify yet another attack on benefits claimants.

Welfare cuts worth billions planned by ministers

The changes, affecting hundreds of thousands of people from 2025, would save £4bn in welfare payments.

www.bbc.co.uk

In June 2022, over 40% of Universal Credit claimants were in work. The benefit system is just as much a corporate welfare system to allow companies to maximise profits by paying minimal wages.
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I work within the system and there are many many problems but folk claiming fraudulently is so low down the list of issues that I see.

Given the general acknowledgement of how complicated the benefits system is, it's amazing how certain some people are that other people are getting benefits that they are not entitled to.

 

[Blueballs]

The benefits system is insane even under the "evil tories". People are paid to have children and then work two days a week part time and they end up about the same as a doctor with all the topups. It pushes up the price of rent with housing benefit. These things should only be a short time thing not a thing someone lives their life on even though they're able to work. They then end up raising the next generation of unproductive people that take from society rather than contributing. I see it daily with my work. Since covid 100's of thousands of more people have been signed off work and signed onto benefits forever. No the test isn't that strict and it get's lots of people playing the system.

 

[HotesTilaire]

I think we all need to apply for jobs with DWP (who have the highest rate of losing disability discrimination employment tribunals in the country) then when we inevitably get fired for being off sick all the time, we just tell the DWP that the DWP wouldn’t employ us. Case closed!

 

[HotesTilaire]

We don’t always “exaggerate” though. I can only cook a meal once a month, maybe twice. Otherwise I use kettle/microwave - for a simple food, not protein, two veg and carbs with sauce.
Then they will ask you about walking/going shopping, and extrapolate it, so if you can walk 100m you can stand up to cook. No mention of the cooking being prevented by shaking, memory loss, breathlessness.
I’d be all for a more intrusive exam if it wasn’t going to be Cherry-picked for snippets that are used against you. Tabloid journalists in the 80s reported with better accuracy than a PIP assessor!

 

[Moth]

I would have thought the driving, and operating heavy machinery, 5 days a week would have some bearing on a pip claim

See this is the problem with making a judgment about someone else's eligibility for benefits without knowing the facts. "They don't look disabled to me", "We all have anxiety", whether you call it a 'lived' or 'anecdotal' experience, making assumptions based on what one perceives or is told is no better than hearsay and proves nothing. It's possible that the person you mention is committing benefit fraud by lying about their capabilities in order to claim PIP but it's equally (if not more) possible that they are not as PIP has nothing to do with one's ability to work and you don't know the basis on which it was awarded.

Fairly regularly I see claimants who tell me that they should be getting more benefits because someone they know has told them that they are getting x,y,z for the same or lesser reasons. They often don't believe me when I tell them they are getting everything to which they are entitled and that they shouldn't take any notice of what they perceive or are told someone else is getting. You don't get PIP simply by telling the DWP that you have a certain condition or that it affects you in a particular way, you need to provide evidence and pass an assessment often carried out by someone pretty determined to deny your claim.

 

[Foxvint]

Over half of all households in this country get more in benefits than they pay in tax. That is simply not sustainable. Working ppl are shat on. There'll be an outcry from the bleeding hearts who think its fine for some ppl to work til they're worn out and wrung out at 67 so other ppl don't have to about the bank account checks that are now going to go on when someone claims UC but I think it's the bare minimum- the rules are insanely generous anyway. If you've got 16k in the bank what the hell do you need UC for? That's more money than I take home in a year in exchange for 5 days a week of my life after NI and tax is pilfered from it.

I used to believe all the lefty rhetoric about benefits being a subsistence life until I started a job that entails seeing ppls bank accounts. It's working families who suffer in this country. It is immoral that 2 ppl in a household need to work FT just to keep afloat in order to do it all again the next day when there's households of no work, ever. When my marriage broke down i was a single mum for a while and I was much better off as a part time working single mum than I am as a FT working person now remarried with a FT working husband. That's fucked up. And definitely not just down to soaring living costs we're all dealing with.

Benefits have gone up 10%. My wages haven't. An they get COL drops too as if us clowns who work aren't subject to COL price hikes. I'd argue we're more subject to them with our mortgages and private rents. Everyone loves a MH conversation til you say the 1 thing that'd improve mine is not being surrounded by bums who have a better standard of life than me while mine is stolen by FT work and an hour of it is only worth a tenner.

Should go without saying I'm not calling genuine claimants bums. I have a dearly loved nephew on higher level of PIP and thank god that safety net is there. But for that 1 genuine example I can give you 5 that aren't. I'm not assuming. Im not doing a 'they look ok to me' thing. I'm talking direct knowledge from the horses mouth that they're blagging it. I consider these twats in the same light as I would if they went into my purse and stole directly.

 

[princessmaire80]

I work in the sector and also consider myself working class. So Ive seen it all, truly.

We all know people commit benefit fraud. I see people day in day out that have more money coming in from benefits than I do coming in from working for the same department that administers them. Payments might be genuine they might not be.

However if I allowed myself to get bogged down with how unfair it seems Id be a simmering pot of resentment 24/7. So instead I try my best to reframe it and accept that in order to allow those who truly need the help to receive it there will be these false claimants. It just has to be unfortunately. It doesnt make it right or palatable but its one of those things.

I'd love for the system to be made completely perfect but I cant see how theyd even attempt it.

Would also be good for all if work actually paid and everyone was paid a fairer wage for the work they do. Noone should be in work and struggling to manage

I work for another government department and I get what you are saying totally. I get enhanced rate PIP on both as well as working just shy of full time (and that’s because of the fact my husband, who I care for through emotional support and prompting, doesn’t usually work Fridays so it’s impossible for me to work Fridays) A relative of mine (single man, lives alone) gets just £100 less solely in benefit than I get in wages AND PIP.

Meanwhile my poor husband is working very long hours (he did 50 hours this week, 60 hours next week and the week after it could potentially increase to 70+) My husband also has a form of the illness that my relative has and works long hours in a hard manual role. It makes me cross when my husband arrives home, exhausted and his legs swollen, to snatch a few hours sleep before he does it all again the following day. It angers me when I’m so exhausted that during my break I have to lie down and sleep or literally just lie still and do nothing as I’m so shattered (I’ve got ME and fibromyalgia among other things)

Yes I get PIP and for that I’m extremely grateful- it helps keep me in work. I’ve always worked apart from when I was on ESA for two years while having cancer treatment. I went back to work and everyone said I was insane as I was on support group ESA. But it would be better if there were more support for people like us. I’m not well enough to work so many hours- I’m not well enough to work full stop- but we’re barely surviving. My husband is about ten years off retirement and apart from varicose veins (probably from years of standing in his job) is fortunately physically extremely fit and healthy. But he’s not going to go on forever.

 

[mochibean]

Verifying Device

www.thesun.co.uk

This is what's wrong with the benefit system

This is such a small thing tbh. Okay some people spend their benefits on daft things but benefits pay you fuck all majority of the time, barely enough to live nevermind other luxuries. It pushes the same narrative that everyone on benefits is a scrounger, lazy, etc. It's just punching down at poor people as usual, I take these articles with a grain of salt. They do it on purpose, our gov officials pocket more money than anyone on benefits and don't get penalised.
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I wonder why a version of this story has been run in newspapers like The Sun every year since 2020? In fact this woman has been in the papers being held up as an example of 'what's wrong with the benefit system' at least once a year for the last 10 years.

To keep up the narrative that people on benefits are lazy workshy scroungers who get thousands for doing nothing. It is just not true though for the majority of people, yet they're the ones who are stigmatised for being on benefits. Same old shit.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Years ago I remember being told to fill out the forms based on your worst day, and to never say sometimes as they would assume that means you can, and score zero points. Is the advice different now?

No. Do not say sometimes. Absolutely fill out the forms based on your worst day.

If the question is can you walk 100 metres, if its likely to take you triple the time of an able bodied person and leave you wiped out the answer is no.

Not 'yes with extreme difficulty or with aides'

I think the mental toll of addressing where your body or mind is failing you can be extremely hard for people. These forms are made that way. Genuine people want to try and do the most their body will allow despite the consequences of that.

 

[milliemaggie]

UC is such hard work. A lot of people are currently getting reviews on their accounts they have to explain every little transaction, withdrawal and are being asked what they bought at ASDA etc Its damaging their mental health

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

I think the system allows for a margin of blag, to be honest. People who dedicate themselves to playing the system have always found ways to get what they want.
No government wants to pay out benefits, no matter what they say it’s designed to make it difficult to access help.

This is the problem. To allow those who truly need it access there is always going to be people playing the system.

The system is already difficult to navigate and that means vulnerable people often arent getting what they need because of the hoops you need to jump through.

Its my job and whilst I see people who may not be telling us the truth I see more broken people who are exhausted and have given up trying to sort things out.

You make it even more difficult to claim and those people will give up entirely and the people whove always scammed the system will continue to do so.

 

[Drea1984]

I agree with you entirely. I work full time but once everything is paid I have very little left. I am very marginally better off working full time. How ever I like working and being out in society.
For many years I worked 25 hours as a single mum and was much much much better off.

 

[MrsLucas]

I had to come post on here after hearing all of the ‘rumours’. I was SW before I left after having my third baby last year to be a sahm. I’m not entitled to anything that’s not my reason for posting on here. My reason is the worry I feel for people. With my previous job majority of people and families I worked with were on the bread line already never mind with all the cost of living crisis. I honestly can not imagine how people are feeling about this. It’s easy to say ‘they should just get a job’ but it’s not that easy for starters there aren’t enough jobs out there for people with little to no experience. I know of people who have tried and tried to get jobs but they just can not. I don’t like to talk politics but I can not wait to see the back of this government. I can’t imagine the devastation all of this is going to cause for some People….many vulnerable People with children.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

I work in the sector and also consider myself working class. So Ive seen it all, truly.

We all know people commit benefit fraud. I see people day in day out that have more money coming in from benefits than I do coming in from working for the same department that administers them. Payments might be genuine they might not be.

However if I allowed myself to get bogged down with how unfair it seems Id be a simmering pot of resentment 24/7. So instead I try my best to reframe it and accept that in order to allow those who truly need the help to receive it there will be these false claimants. It just has to be unfortunately. It doesnt make it right or palatable but its one of those things.

I'd love for the system to be made completely perfect but I cant see how theyd even attempt it.

Would also be good for all if work actually paid and everyone was paid a fairer wage for the work they do. Noone should be in work and struggling to manage

 

[Foxvint]

Kids in my work who live at home and are well enough to work full time get it for anxiety. I'm pretty anxious when I see the bus coming and don't get on it cos there's 2 quid I can save. Quite anxiety inducing living off milky coffees in the works kitchen close to payday.

I hate that you're not even supposed to have these conversations cos ppl act like you're some kind of Dr Mengele advocating for the ill to be bumped off. It just decends into hyperbole and ppl acting like you just tipped someone out their wheelchair. I absolutely do not think someone's worth is dependent on them being economically active. I do think 1 of the reasons this country has undergone a shift to the right in my lifetime is working peoples exhaustion with bed wetting piss takers.

 

[BaxterBillions]

Its extremely difficult now to be in no form of work at all. You can sanctioned easily too if not complying with the requirements set out to you.

If anyone thinks its easier and youd be better off on benefits why are you even working?

Indeed. I missed an appointment with the Jobcentre because I was ill with flu. I notified them beforehand of course but they still sanctioned me and I lost six weeks money. I got it overturned but it took a few months for them to do it. The DWP pretty much are a law unto themselves.

Most people know that benefits are shit, apart from the "I'm alright Jack" brigade.

 

[Cheapseats]

When you get a letter stating what benefits you are entitled to it usually says words to the effect of ..the minimum people with your condition can live on.

The key word being the minimum. Not average not above average but the bare minimum they think you can survive on.

Noone is living the high life on benefits alone. It isnt possible. So they are either working on the side or doing something illegal.

But it makes for good divide and rule if you can make those ignorant of benefits believe that benefit recipients are living the life of riley.

 

[CrystalWench]

I was born with a condition and have had dla/pip since childhood. My whole childhood was surgery in an attempt to improve my physical health, unfortunately due to negligence it ended up worse. I did work full time for a few years in an office job but couldn’t continue and as I’ve got older (still under 40) my health is declining rapidly.
I moved to a council property which has had some adaptations, a wet room with a seat in the shower and a wash dry toilet which has literally saved my life. I couldn’t clean myself after a pee or a poo and had constant kidney infections to the point I’d spent months on antibiotics so you can imagine the state I was getting into, now with the toilet I’ve not had a infection since it’s been put in a year ago! I have a carer twice a day to help with food prep, shopping and domestic tasks, I can walk but it’s incredibly painful and I’m unsteady (iPhone constantly sends updates with my walking steadiness being low/very low), I don’t have any movement in my toes and foot drop so I literally trip over on my own feet/toes, as well as having one leg shorter than the other. I have falls weekly, worst case I lost my front teeth in one as my arms are too short to “save” me. I have an electric wheelchair which I use to go locally, I did have the adapted car but couldn’t afford the petrol it took to take the wheelchair anywhere so now I go out a lot less with the car as it involves having someone with me to take the chair apart etc.
I also have spinal stenosis which was sorted with a fusion but that limits my mobility more, and with age I’ve found that the damage the original stenosis caused is coming out more now, I get a lot of numbness all over my body and weakness.
Despite all of this I’m on very limited painkillers as I’d spent so long in my younger years on them and became addicted to morphine and baclofen that I’ve been put off, going through cold turkey at 15 from spending 4 years on them was enough to up my natural pain threashold. I do have a young child and I feel incredibly guilty that we don’t do much at all out of the house, and how scared he gets when I fall.
I constantly feel like a fraud though, I think part of it is the fight in my head not to give up or give in, and I am clinging on to the tiny bits of good days I have, I worry I’d be accused because one day maybe I made it round the small supermarket clinging onto the trolley but that person didn’t see the next 3 days where I didn’t move, or once I’ve dropped my son at school that I’ll then lay in bed from 9 until 2. I don’t think the constant media thing of targeting the disabled helps. And I’d be the first one to get a job from home, I’m reasonably intelligent and as I said had a good job before which I loved, but it’s easier said than done with this working from home business, there’s a lot that isn’t suitable or I simply don’t have the qualifications for. I dream of financial independence from the state and I know that it’s a dream of many disabled people, this life isn’t a choice.