DWP Benefits

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Which is why I think the system should accept some wastage/blagging. It’s already too difficult for the deserving. Shops build in something to prices to cover a certain amount of shoplifting. They don’t like shoplifters, they’re not encouraging it, but it’s a fact that it will happen. Same with the professionally work shy, they will always exist.
 
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I find it strange that historically benefits like ESA or tax credits were relatively easy to get into yet PIP was extremely difficult, and yet the latter is a benefit purely for the disabled, surely that’s the one benefit that should have an easier time?
PIP isn’t means tested, so you get it whether you’re broke on UC or earning six figures. The only thing you have to be is incapable of carrying out daily activities.
UC assessed me as unfit for any work related activity, no problem. PIP, I had to fight so hard for.
 
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I find it strange that historically benefits like ESA or tax credits were relatively easy to get into yet PIP was extremely difficult, and yet the latter is a benefit purely for the disabled, surely that’s the one benefit that should have an easier time?
Eligibility for tax credits was / is based purely on objective facts; what is your income, do you have children?. All disability related benefits involve a degree of subjective assessment.

I don't agree that ESA (or indeed UC LCW) was / is easy to get compared to PIP. The application processes are very similar and have similar opportunities for applicants to misunderstand the eligibility criteria, fail to represent their case and regrettably for DWP assessors to make incorrect assessments, whether that's by accident or design. However, ESA / UC LCW and PIP are benefits for completely different purposes. Just because you get one does not automatically men that you should get the other.
 
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I know very little about the benefits system, but I personally know somebody who declared bankruptcy, is claiming UC, and pip, which he got backdated for six months, is working cash in hand doing manual labour, tarmac contractor, just bought a plot of land.
 
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I know very little about the benefits system, but I personally know somebody who declared bankruptcy, is claiming UC, and pip, which he got backdated for six months, is working cash in hand doing manual labour, tarmac contractor, just bought a plot of land.
It wouldn't have any impact on their PIP claim which isn't a means tested benefit. Payments start from the date you make the claim so if it takes 6 months to have your claim assessed, you're going to get 6 months backdated.

UC would be affected by hidden income. You can report them ... https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
 
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I know very little about the benefits system, but I personally know somebody who declared bankruptcy, is claiming UC, and pip, which he got backdated for six months, is working cash in hand doing manual labour, tarmac contractor, just bought a plot of land.
Yep. And you'll notice our stories are always 'anecdotal experience' never lived experience. That's only for the ppl who want to talk over and for us on the subject. (Not a dig at anyone on here.)
 
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It wouldn't have any impact on their PIP claim which isn't a means tested benefit. Payments start from the date you make the claim so if it takes 6 months to have your claim assessed, you're going to get 6 months backdated.

UC would be affected by hidden income. You can report them ... https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
I would have thought the driving, and operating heavy machinery, 5 days a week would have some bearing on a pip claim 🤷‍♀️
 
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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 tit, apart from the "I'm alright Jack" brigade.
 
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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.
 
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It's not hearsay if someone's told you direct to your face that they've spun a load of bull to get it- that's what I'm basing my comments on here but no one seems to read that bit. On a thread called DWP Benefits you're gonna get a range of experiences and if you completely discount other people's, you stance is a purely ideological one. There's a sort of officer class in online spaces who I suspect are much younger and posher than me who don't like working class people having an unauthorised view. I'm making assumptions now, just like other posters assume I'm part of an im-alright-jack brigade. I'm far from alright. I'm on the bones of me a cos I'm one of those working class women who carries the world on our backs from cradle to coffin and gets slapped down if we have anything other than a tit eating grin over it.
 
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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 :(
 
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I'm on the bones of me a cos I'm one of those working class women who carries the world on our backs from cradle to coffin and gets slapped down if we have anything other than a tit eating grin over it.
Then quit. If it's so much easier on benefits you'd be a fool not to.
 
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Then quit. If it's so much easier on benefits you'd be a fool not to.
Glib and sarcastic comments like this are part of the problem with any convo on the subject. Click ignore on me if I don't have anything to say worth hearing.
 
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I would have thought the driving, and operating heavy machinery, 5 days a week would have some bearing on a pip claim 🤷‍♀️
You can drive on PIP they give you a mobility car, it will make the assessment more difficult as the DWP will try to spin it in their favour. I watched that celebrity around the world in 40 days and Billy who lost both his legs in a race was driving a car, he would definitely get PIP if he doesn't already. He would need help day to day
 
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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.
They told me to apply, and that it was easy 🤷‍♀️
 
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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.
 
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You can drive on PIP they give you a mobility car, it will make the assessment more difficult as the DWP will try to spin it in their favour. I watched that celebrity around the world in 40 days and Billy who lost both his legs in a race was driving a car, he would definitely get PIP if he doesn't already. He would need help day to day
This person needs no help nor receives any, he is perfectly able. he doesn’t have a mobility car.
 
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This person needs no help nor receives any, he is perfectly able. he doesn’t have a mobility car.
This person is clearly on the take, but I think the point is people on PIP can work, and do all sorts.
This guy is on UC and probs on LCWRA or LCA (he gets extra UC for being too sick to work) it’s the UC plus the extra he’s definitely not entitled to, that’s clear because he is working.
He may well have also blagged the PIP, but saying he doesn’t need PIP because he can operate machinery or drive or work isn’t an objective fact, due to a lot of ifs and maybes.
For those of us on PIP (who have had to fight for it from the DWP who don’t believe us) that kind of link (you can do X so you don’t need PIP) really triggers us, or should I say pisses us off, as we used to call it! Hence all the pushback Mousey.
 
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