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submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by HumanPenguin@feddit.uk to c/casualuk@feddit.uk

If a federated community like this already exists, please point me to it. I'd rather not divide the effort any more than necessary.

I think it is clear to anyone in the UK. The disabled community is now under attack.

This community is an attempt to help pull people together and consider ideas for support and to enhance our voice.

I like many others in our community over the last 14 years. Have enough mental health issues. That I'd be grateful for other mod volunteers who will share the time managing the group. In the hope, we can keep the workload of off to few people.

https://feddit.uk/c/disabilityUK

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[-] Jackthelad@lemmy.world -3 points 2 weeks ago

I used to live near this woman, who had been swinging the lead for years: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2019/06/08/woman-who-claimed-44000-in-disability-benefits-but-was-caught-playing-bowls-is-jailed-for-18-months/

Take note that she was claiming PIP despite being perfectly capable of independent living. She used to get cars on the Motability scheme as well.

Do you think she is the only one in the entire country who has been doing this?

[-] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

No, but the numbers of genuine claimants rejected due to DWP fight out weights them hugely.

She was jailed. And honestly, carrying that crap on for any length of time is almost impossible. Because documentation and interaction with people is needed.

The numbers are very low. As they are with all benefit fraud.

But every solution over the last 14 years has done 0 to reduce these already low numbers. But has been hugely harmful to genuine claimants.

First thing to remember is you have no way to tell is a person is faking it. Most people you see that do not look disabled actually are. Because disability is rarely as visible as the typical images indicate. But is still genuine. Since the Tory attacks on us. Many non visibly disabled have been attacked by folks assuming they are like your neighbour.

But even the visibly disabled have been receiving a huge increase in attacks and prejudice in the streets because of the political and press misinformation that has bee. Spread into this over the last 14 years.

Fraud numbers are low. Because it is actually hard to defraud the state on this long term. Even before Tory changes.

But falsely rejected claims and disabled having to take DWP to court and winning has gone up hugely.

While increasing the stress and actual deaths of disabled people hugely. To the point, it very dramatically effects the health of the most vonerable members.

There is a reason why the DWP is still refusing to release the report on their own Investigation into claiment suicide rates. Years after they ran it. And many off us have come out of the other side of failed attempts because of the stress just trying to function in society needs while they fight for years to avoid paying genuine claims.

EDIT:

Take note that she was claiming PIP despite being perfectly capable of independent living.

And this is the most concerning part of your comment. Because it points to how little most people understand about the point of PIP.

It has nothing to do with if people can live independently. But instead, the actual differences in cost for disabled people to do so and actually interact with the community. Compared to an able-bodied person. Most PIP claimants can and do work. Many live alone. But all genuine claimants face significant higher costs in doing so over able people. The daily living part of pip is designed to help cover these costs. For some (like myself, that helps pay for someone to help me manage the house so I can live alone. For others, it is related to other costs in everyday survival. But it rarely covers the actual difference when you know just how much that is.

She used to get cars on the Motability scheme as well.

Again, this is another huge misunderstanding. The Mobility scheme is not a welfare benefit. When someone uses This scheme to buy a car. They are not actually getting any money.

PIP is the method a person receives money to help with mobility costs. The amount pip pays towards a person's mobility costs is from £28.70 to £75.75 a week. But can be as low as nothing.

But anyone with a disability can use the Mobility scheme. All it is a way to borrow for a car, including n adaptions needed to allow a disabled person to drive. Plus the government will transfer your PIP mobility allo9wance directly to the scheme if you have any. The disabled person pays that loan over anything PIP covers. While the scheme works to provide a few options of cheaper cars that are entirely covered under the higher PIP mobility payments. If a person is driving a more expensive car it is because they are paying the difference. Remember, most PIP claimants actually work for a living. So for higher earners its more about the extra costs of converting a car to their needs.

To sum up all the data on PIP. There are 2 elements.

Daily Living 72.65–108.55 or 0 Mobility 28.70–75.75 or 0

So if you qualify for pip at all, the payments can be anywhere from 28.70 to 184.30 a week.

this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2025
23 points (92.6% liked)

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