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 ❤️❤️

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.

Santosha12

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/135839/did-anyone-get-a-correspondence-regarding-how-they-spend-their-pip-money

Hi @older01, I would not complete forms, provide information etc. specifically about PIP, and what it is spent on, and that's just my personal choice. If it was mandatory to provide it then I would.

Your choice to do so is with well-meaning, good intent so I hope you do not concern yourself with any negative comments directed towards your decision to do so, on here.

Your own choices are not, and should not, be about whether you've done "any favours to [other] PIP claimants". You do what you feel right and comfortable with and rightly so. Any negative changes/adverse outcomes are down to the government alone.

If moves to a voucher system etc. are introduced in the future it is almost laughable, in my humble opinion, and with all due respect @Zipz, that it is because of any information you @older01, or other claimants, have provided.

DWP are already fully aware of what the needs (and therefore expenses) of disabled people will be, and exactly where they can 'outsource' these in order to avoid directly paying claimants via PIP.

So I think that it makes not one iota of difference as to whether its helpful, or unhelpful, in the scheme of things. If that becomes the direction of travel with PIP then I believe by 'consulting' via a survey, the DWP create a narrative/PR and rhetoric to justify changes but, make no mistake about it, if that's the aim it will happen regardless of how many complete a survey or not

From my perspective and experience, I have found the whole benefits process overly-intrusive and offers no, or very little dignity, to applicants, in very many ways.

The UC reviews for example, which include requests for a minimum of four months bank statements is, to my mind, more than enough information for the DWP to see what I spend my money on, including a (very small) private pension. Any scrutiny or 'interrogation' of that at my UC reviews is fine with me but only because it has to be as I have no choice. I therefore just wouldn't have the impetus to enable further unnecessary intrusion.

Albus_Scope

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 ❤️‍🩹

Santosha12

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1040665#Comment_1040665

Thanks for your comments @older01 and you're right, we do all need to stick together. They're all interesting points you've made and I do completely understand your perspective on it. And @Albus_Scope has made interesting points I thought. So did @Zipz (apart from last paragraph imo 🤔 🙂 😊).

If anything, posts I don't agree with can still highlight points I either might not have considered and can be helpful and might sway me a bit, but not always, but always interesting 'debates'. Or stressful and I might just stroll on.

I guess I'm just quite fixed in my thinking about the plans by this government (cynical basically) and do not believe, for one second, that any information provided will be used constructively or without the motive for further cuts. Whether they receive no responses at all, or a million, I still think the outcome will be the same 😬. They've already got inherently the motivation they need which they had from day one in my view.

But having said all that, it does not take away that we each have free will to think as we do and act as we each see fit, as it should be. As my lovely old mum would have said 'it wouldn't do if we all thought exactly the same we'd be clongs'.....clones mum I'd say, clones. ❣️😅😊

Take good care and my very warmest wishes 😊.

Santosha12

Scroll on I meant, not stroll ha ha.

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.