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Did anyone get a correspondence regarding how they spend their PIP money?

older01

A couple of weeks ago I filled out a form sent to me about what I spend my PIP money on. The email said that I had been chosen at random to fill in a survey.

I listed everything. Carer assist, my Motability vehicle, my equipment, the extra money I spent on utilities due to my illness. Even my pet care and my motoring expenses to and from doctors and hospitals. General maintenance people that I can’t do the tasks due to my disability, I made sure to list. There is so much that I listed, and they are genuine expenses, I sincerely hope that I gave the DWP an idea of how much disabled people rely on their PIP Awards. I was enthusiastic to fill out the form to help everyone.

The equipment that individuals need vary from person to person, and I did tell them that on the form. I hope I played a small part in helping us all to keep the benefit that we so desperately need and deserve ❤️❤️

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Comments

Zipz

I doubt you have helped anybody.

Remember the Conservative Government's Green Paper suggesting PIP could be replaced by vouchers, LA support, or become receipt-based? It was running a year ago. Those ideas haven't gone away. They could well reappear in future legislation.

I don't doubt all your needs are genuine. My PIP pays for everything disability related and there's so much I pay for through the nose because I can't do it myself. The DWP could argue that everything you've listed (bar pet care which they'd consider a luxury) could be provided for free (NHS) or by voucher or from a special catalogue. You couldn't choose your support. I doubt they'd pay for handymen or gardeners if you own your home.

You didn't do PIP claimants any favours by completing that form.

Albus_Alumni

It’s important that the government listens to disabled people, and does all it can to understand that life costs more if you are disabled. The government have recently announced at least £4.8bn in catastrophic cuts to welfare spending with most falling on PIP, the main extra cost benefit.

Before encouraging people to take part we’d need to be sure that the data will be used constructively and not to justify cuts that will drive more disabled people into poverty. Until we receive these assurances, we will not be encouraging disabled people to fill in the survey.

older01

Hi @Santosha12

I thank you for your reply that is honest and reflective of the thoughts of many.

Of course some people will be negative towards me for filling out the form, and I did consider whether to do so or not prior to completing it. I considered whether they do Fully understand the complexity of the individual needs of people claiming PIP. Yes, some of the questions were leading questions, and some questions were to understand how PIP is used by a range of people who are entitled to claim it.

I only filled it out to give the DWP some insight into the daily costs involved in just living as a disabled person. I did complete the form after some thought about the possible outcome if everyone discarded the form thinking that the issue might just go away. Unless people demonstrate that we need every single penny and then more, yes we have the very real possibility of losing what we rightly claim and need. I don’t mind people who are ignorant of the fact that the DWP are targeting the most vulnerable people in society, but I do take acceptation to the vulnerable people who are as ignorant as people that aren’t affected being negative about my contribution. Again, thank you for trying to be helpful and understanding. We need to support each other more than ever before ❤️‍🩹❤️

older01

@Zipz

By ignoring the fact that the disabled community and disability benefits are under threat is the sure way to get PIP scrapped. Unless Someone stands up and is brave enough to take a stand, then of course we will lose the benefit. Yes I remember that transition from DLA to PIP and the nightmare face to face interview. It haunts me. The absolute shaming that was used by the Tory administration. That’s my exact reason for stating that I spend every penny of my PIP and more to survive. I wish you well, but please don’t bury your head in the sand thinking that the issue will go away - it won’t unless people like me demonstrate exactly what it’s like budgeting every single day for my equipment. My heating to be comfortable, my basic needs to be met within my budget. Yes, I think about it every single day.

older01

@Albus_Scope

I hear what you’re saying! I thought about completing the form long and hard before doing so. Then I considered the idea that if everyone ignored the request to fill out the anonymous form, then what? What would the DWP conclude from that? My answer was that they might conclude whatever they choose because there is insufficient evidence from disabled people showing that they spent the benefit on the everyday costs of care etc. Equipment that’s not cheap. Even basic things like heating. I made sure that I listed absolutely everything without going over the top to ensure that they do get some insight that PIP is still an essential benefit to disabled people.

We cannot afford the luxury to wait and see what happens unfortunately ❤️‍🩹

Zipz

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1040671#Comment_1040671

Believe me, I'm not burying my head in the sand. Can't afford beach holidays. I've taken what action I can to protest against cuts.

I simply don't see what good this form can do when DWP have full details of our disabling conditions, limitations, and needs. If we tell them exactly what our money is spent on it could motivate the DWP to reconsider the options of last year's Green Paper instead of direct payments.