#Personal Independence Payments

[cassolotl]

UK government planning to scrap a major disability benefit

I'm only just scraping by and the government are proposing to take away PIP (a disability benefit), which would be HALF of my income wiped out.

"Reforms to personal independence payments (PIP) could include stopping regular cash payments, and instead offering claimants one-off grants for things like home adaptations." -- "Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024

And:

"The plans, which will be consulted on over the coming months, also include proposals to “move away from a fixed cash benefit system”, meaning people with some conditions will no longer receive regular payments, but instead access to treatment if their condition does not involve extra costs." -- "People with depression or anxiety could lose sickness benefits, says UK minister", Guardian, 29 April 2024

That's what the NHS is supposed to be doing...

Genuinely absolutely terrifying.

Can anyone living in the UK join in with an (hopefully!) overwhelming cascade of unique emails to their MP opposing this? WriteToThem.com makes it very quick and easy.

They're proposing to replace it with one-off grants that the individual can apply for, which is absurd and horrifying, so feel free to point out how that won't work as well!

Here's what I'm writing, and do not just copy-paste my letter/email, because that makes it less legit. Do your own thing, even just one sentence telling your MP that you're opposed is enough if that's all you can manage. Whatever you want to say is what your MP needs to hear.

Dear [MP's name], Today I learned that the government plan to scrap PIP, and maybe replace it with something like a one-off grant application process, before the next election. ("Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0ry09d50wo) PIP is about half of my income (about 44%). I don't spend it on occasional large purchases, I spend it on countless things that are more expensive for me than they are for other people. PIP is in place to acknowledge, as it says in the above article, that disabled people's lives are more expensive than non-disabled people's lives by hundreds of pounds per week. ("Previous research from Scope suggests households with at least one disabled adult or child face an estimated average extra cost of £975 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households." That's £225 per week, and the maximum amount of PIP you can get is £184.) So firstly, it could be argued that PIP doesn't even cover the additional expenses of the average disabled household. And next, the cost of implementing an alternative system would be worse for disabled people, totally unsuited to its purpose, and more expensive to run. Worse for disabled people: Currently PIP acknowledges that being disabled takes a lot more work to maintain a comparable standard of living, and as it's an amount of work that the claimant cannot sustainably do, they are given money so that they can pay someone else to do it. These costs are distributed across all living expenses, in addition to occasional one-off purchases of e.g. mobility aids. Having to apply for one-off payments for expenses would be more work on top of that, so if the disabled person isn't able to do it (which is very likely) they will either have to work less in their day jobs in order to spend more time applying for one-off grants, or they will have to also apply for one-off payments to pay someone to apply for more one-off payments. This is self-evidently a waste of energy and time, and totally impractical, as well as being counter to the entire point of disability benefits. It would also be extremely undignified for the disabled people, and arguably against human rights (right to private life and dignity), to have to justify each purchase to the government. Totally unsuited to its purpose: One off-grants are not suited to ongoing higher expenses such as having to buy more prepared food (e.g. carrot batons are more expensive than raw carrots and go off much more quickly). Does this policy assume that disabled people's PIP is only for things like wheelchairs and walking sticks? More expensive to run: The system for PIP applications is already fairly backlogged, in that my last application took over 6 months to complete. I was awarded PIP for 10 years. If every application for a one-off grant had to be accompanied by an application of a similar scale that wouldn't be workable, so presumably an initial PIP application like the current system's would still be required to qualify for the system in the first place, and then following that, numerous smaller applications for money (e.g. for taxis, pre-chopped veg, painkillers, specialist clothing, etc.) would be carried out per person per month. The disability benefits system would have to be scaled up significantly, and it would be much more expensive. It is far cheaper to give people a set amount of money based on their needs; it's the same money that you would be giving them in grants anyway, but without having to process each purchase/one-off application. I implore you to oppose this proposal. It is blatantly unworkable to the level of absurdity, but more importantly it is inhumane. I look forward to your reply detailing your stance. Many thanks in advance. Yours sincerely, [My name]

But, again, if you can't manage anything long or complicated like that, your best is good enough. Even if they're not all perfectly written and detailed, we want to bowl them over with sheer quantity of emails.

[insidecroydon]

How the 'lifestyle choices' of Tory millionaires is taking the PIP

Is there no vulnerable section of society that this Conservative Government won’t try to undermine? In his latest column, ANDREW FISHER, right, looks into the latest attacks on disabled people Whenever Conservative governments are in trouble they reach not for solutions, but for scapegoats. For weeks, in the run-up to this month’s local elections, the Conservatives spoke of little else other than…

[spoonielivingfree]

PIP Review Assessment

I feel like benefits assessments get more traumatic the more you have. Or maybe that’s just because my health seems to be getting more and more complex. New diagnoses, new waiting lists, some things improved, some things worsened. I didn’t even write every single diagnosis on my form because I knew it would be too much to go through, and things like costochondritis and my eye problems have…

[sixseasonsofodestawithatardis]

Explaining PIP, the reforms and how YOU can help!

Recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride announced measures to reform PIP (Personal Independence Payment). It's a benefit given to disabled people, whether they are employed or not, to help provide support for the extra costs incurred due to being disabled. PIP can be paid on anything you need, such as a carer, adaptions, your bills or a night out (yes, disabled people are entitled to a social life I'm NOT arguing with anyone about this!) On top of the changes to sick notes, the announced reforms are an assault on disabled people to desperately cling to power!

Below is an explanation of PIP and the reforms so people can answer the open consultations, call for evidence, and sign a petition. We need as many people in the UK as possible to answer both to try to stop these reforms from happening.

What is PIP?

The Tories are saying PIP is a one-size-fits-all benefit, which again is a lie as PIP is designed to look at how your disability affects your daily life and how difficult it makes it for you to participate in society, not whether you have this specific disability so it only affects you in these ways! It doesn't matter whether you're diagnosed or not, either. There are two categories they look at throughout, known as the 'Daily Living Component' and the 'Mobility component' The process involves 50 pages you have to fill out (link to Turn2US for proof https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/claiming-personal-independence-payment-pip/fill-in-the-personal-independence-payment-pip-form#:~:text=You%20usually%20get%20the%20paper,it%20is%2050%20pages%20long.)

With hundreds of letters from Doctors as proof of your condition! And then an assessment in which you will answer all sorts of demeaning questions, give in-depth answers that you don't feel comfortable sharing, and hope the assessor has understood how it affects your life and written it down properly and that you'll get the right amount of money at the end of this assessment or re-assessment.

To get the standard rate in both components, you need 8 points; to get the enhanced rate, you need 12 points.

They'll then give you two, three, five, or ten years (10 years is known as a fixed-term award and a light-touch review) to undergo the terror of the PIP assessment again.

The reforms proposed and why they're terrifying!

The reforms they've suggested so far are

One-off grants for aids and appliances

receipts to then be claimed back at a later date

the changing of eligibility for PIP or the category 'Long Term sickness'

Vouchers instead of cash payments

If you've read those four options and thought they were cruel, infantilising and impossible to make work, then you'd be right.

As a disabled person, bills don't magically disappear. You still have council tax and rent to pay or a carer. Will landlords and councils accept these vouchers? A one-off grant won't work here either. The vouchers also signal that we can't be trusted to pay for our own needs and aren't responsible—which is far from the truth!

Aids and treatments are already covered by the NHS, so this is redundant and will be futile, especially when you consider the long waiting lists for mental health treatment (and just generally) on the NHS—and even if they aren't, we do know that and will use PIP to save up for it, etc. It's easier and more economical to give us cash payments.

To have the receipts to claim back expenses, we need to have the money to spend on said expenses.

Changing the eligibility will (much like these other suggestions) put more disabled people at risk. If you want mental health to improve: Fix the NHS, wages, sort out the cost of living crisis and fund the research/support for Long Covid sufferers.

How you can help! - UK-based people, plz sign everyone else. Please reblog & signal boost!

If you live in the UK, there are currently two consultations open ( the sick note one closes on 8 July 2024, and the PIP one closes on 22 July 2024). Ideally, the responses will be used to decide whether these reforms go ahead.

Here are links to the two reforms for PIP and changes to the sick note process.

Please note that the PIP consultation ( the first link) is 6 pages long and must be completed in one go. It's also filled with typos, repeated questions, and very difficult wording in many places, so be on the lookout for that! People are rightfully complaining about its accessibility, so the link and end date may change. I will update this post if this happens. I also know answering stuff like this is overwhelming, so here is a thread by PeachyInWales on Twitter about how they approached the consultation. If I see any samples by any disability activists or organisations, I will post them here, too!

This second link is the second consultation or call to evidence. Which GPs are being stripped of the ability to sign sicknotes for people on benefits, which is again ridiculous!

And the last link is a petition from SCOPE to stop the government from demonising disabled people further.

Ultimately, we're trying to stop a benefit that is difficult to get and barely covers costs for many applicants from getting worse.

If I've missed anything then let me know! I'm sorry the post was so long, but it's a lot to go through! Again, UK-based people, please share your thoughts if you can and sign the petition! If you are not currently living in the UK, please share these links or the post so other UK-based users can see this and try to help.

Thank you!

[queerautism]

Okay, the call was really stressful and hearing my deadname sucked, but they've paused the closing of my benefits and are gonna send another form for us.

They did ask if we sent it via recorded delivery and like?? No I was a fucking fool and used the freepost envelope they gave me with the form. Which of course was a trap. Fucking hate this shit

[ineffectualdemon]

I hate filling out disability paperwork because it feels like crawling on the ground grovelling: "please sir, can't you see how wretched and worthless I am? Can you not spare a penny for this poor pathetic creature you see before you? I know I am a stain on humanity but please please spare me some coin so I might see another sunrise"

Its humiliating to have to write out on detail how badly I struggle with every aspect of life both physically and mentally to prove I'm sick enough to deserve help

I hate it

[acceptance-and-love]

ANNOUNCEMENT

Currently, the British government is changing the whole entire part of PIP (personal independed payment). People who obtain PIP are disabled or have health conditions.

These changes they plan to make may make disabled people homeless.

They are planning on stripping away the monthly payment (which since the cost of living crisis could barely cover anything) and are now changing it to vouchers, a discount catalogue and grants.

They can pay £9,000 to heat their horses but chant give two shits about actual human beings who are suffering enough as it is.

They want disabled people to go back into work. They want there to be more British workers working away even if they suffer mental health.

The vouchers may not even cover anything, The grants will only be to what they deem suitable so no more sensory gadgets unless they're actual medical equipment and ect.

Many will struggle paying the bills, paying rent, paying off debt.

And many disabled people cannot go into work. Many places won't even take disabled people to work for them! Disabled people get chosen last for work!

Their plans will cause more harm than good. Even with the promise of therapy, how will people get it? The lists will be huge. It's hard enough to get a therapist in general since the lists go months or years.

I don't usually care about government things. But I care about disabled people and everyone else. If I find any petitions against it, I will link them below this post or in a separate reblog.

[theadhdgoblin]

[hydeingpurples]

It's mad how shitty PIP is to disabled people despite it supposedly being there for disabled people.

After all that, they've only given me 2 points on preparing food. I had 4 points before. Nothing has changed. Majority of the time, I cannot prepare a simple meal without endangering myself because of my tics; I have to ask for someone to do it for me, have something pre-made, order takeaway... Do they care? Apparently not. But I'm not going through all that paperwork and stress again.

Thanks for the help, not.

[bluegoblinfox]

PIP assessor or little Britain character?

Got the report from my pip assessor.

Me: I really struggle to chop veg

Assessor: Yeah but you can drive a manual car so I think you can chop veg.

Me: I struggle to remember to do things, I miss appointments and leave the washing machine unemptied. Forget to eat, drink or pee sometimes.

Assessor: Yeah but you can drive a manual car and you are here at this appointment. So I think you can concentrate enough to do things.

Me: I struggle to communicate and sometimes I can't speak when I'm overwhelmed.

Assessor: Yeah but you are talking now and can drive a manual car. So you can communicate.

Me: I forget to take my meds and only remember when I start to get symptoms

Assessor: Yeah but you drive a manual car and have told me about your conditions so I think you can remember to take meds.

Me: I'm not doing that movement it hurts.

Assessor: Yeah but you drive a manual car and took your Jacket off when you got here. So I think you could do that if you wanted.

Me: I have bad joint pain and right sided weakness.

Assessor: Yeah but you drive a manual car.

I could go on.

I will be challenging the decision.

[chronicallyillandcoping]

Here are some top tips for PIP assessments from someone awarded enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility.

- Talk about it like its your worst day and dont let them down play anything. For example

Me: I really struggle to walk a lot of the time.

The assessor: but you can sometimes.

Me: yes but most of the time i cant and when i can its very painful

-Have the meeting recorded. They are less likely to try and twist your words if its being recorded. It is also helpful for if you want to apply for mandatory reconsideration you have a record of everything that was said

-If you can, have someone with you. I personally had my partner with me and they answered a lot of the questions for me as i was getting overwhelmed and needed support. Having someone there to support you and advocate for you if needed can be a big help.

-If possible have it done over the phone rather than in person. A lot of people say they were judged for what they wore how much eye contact they made e.c.t. if its possible having it over the phone limits how much of a judgement they can make based on looks

-Evidence! Get as much evidence as possible even if you think its irrelevant i sent in 150 pages worth of medical records even if it wasnt all relevent it made a huge difference that there was a lot backing up what i said

-If youre struggling to write out the forms and its possible i highly suggest seeking support. I personally used my local autism hub for help but citizens advice are also able to help you through the process

- Be gentle with yourself. The people doing the assessment and the benefits system, in general can be so so mean. Remember you deserve help.

If anyone else has any other tips feel free to add them below. My dms are open if anyone has any questions or feel free to ask in a comment. Sorry this was long but i hope it helps.

[corvigae]

What a lovely day to once again say that I personally hope that the conservatives in the US Supreme Court burn in hell and that they never experience a single moment of peace for the rest of their miserable bastard lives and suffer every minute they are alive.

[spoonielivingfree]

On the Great British Benefits System not Respecting our Time

This morning I was meant to have my PIP assessment for my review. It was a phone appointment and being the neurodivergent person I am, I ended up in anxious waiting mode, unable to do anything, getting more anxious as the minutes after the appointment time ticked by and I still hadn’t received the call. It got to 35 minutes past the appointment time and I got a phone call saying the appointment…

[headpainmigraine]

The UK benefits system is like, imagine the only way you can get enough money to scrape by on is a process that is responsible for panic attacks, worsening mental health and suicides, and the government thinks its too lenient and that claimants bank accounts should be subject to governmental scrutiny to protect against fraud (this is a real thing that they're trying to do) 👍

[queerautism]

I am so furious and scared. Fucking government is trying to stop my PIP payments (and get money back from me!!!) claiming they haven't received the review assessment back from us, which not only did we send but we have pictures and we called the day we sent it to confirm with them and get an extension so it would have time to get there.

We just got the letter and of course, they are closed on weekends so I have to freak out about this until Monday when they open and Dave can call and try to sort it out

[magiclovingdragon]

I saw this post on facebook from an organisation that helps people with their PIP applications last night

I have my PIP reassessment tomorrow, they know I have anxiety and today I have received 3 phone calls, every 2 hours from a withheld number… I haven’t answered. I fully suspect its the DWP trying this tactic and even despite my thinking that, its still succeeding in triggering my anxiety

Update: Turns out it was PIP phoning, it was one of the first things they said to me on my phone assessment. Supposedly the 4 phone calls (another happened after I made this post) from a withheld number were to remind me for my appointment today but they sent me a text during the day inbetween 2 of the calls and you’d think they’d leave a voicemail so yeah its crafty and the worst part is it worked, today its not only triggered my anxiety but its also made my fibro & ME flare up today with increased pain and fatigue (not helped by me not getting any sleep last night), its flared my ibs and gave me a migraine after the call ended