Means-testing PIP

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Zipz
Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing
edited June 20 in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA

I thought this possibility had gone away until I saw this on B&W. I don't know whether it's genuine or someone seeking to scare the vulnerable.

Screenshot_20250620_190047_Chrome.jpg

EDIT: More than a rumour. I would have no income whatsoever:

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/ministers-are-secretly-considering-means-testing-pip-dwp-admits-despite-pledge-in-green-paper/

@Albus_Scope

@Holly_Scope

Comments

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing
    edited June 20

    All over X. I won't sleep tonight. I'm beginning to wish I didn't have a penny and could claim UC but I always wanted as much independence as my extreme disability allows.

    Screenshot_20250620_192611_X.jpg
  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 1,977 Championing

    That sounds like an administrative nightmare…

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing
    edited June 21

    Why? There is no admin nightmare about means-testing UC or the other benefits people have been able to claim until absorbed into UC.

    Scared to death. It's mentioned on YouTube now:

    https://youtu.be/KbQgc7qNLG0?si=N0yNzhKmtdY0cKQC 

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,362 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'm trying not to rise to possible news until it's cemented in law, but I think means tested PIP would totally go against what PIP is actually for.

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing
    edited June 21

    The combination of losing CB-ESA (likely) and PIP (possible) would leave me with zero income bar interest from savings which are hardly millions! I'd die. Simple as that.

    A contact said its illegal for the state to leave a person without any source of income but when I look at the country today I'm convinced she's wrong. What say you?

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,799 Championing

    Apologies if I've missed something here, but why can't you claim Universal Credit once your savings drop below £16k?

    PIP isn't classed as income so I doubt there are any legal issues in stopping that.

  • Stellar
    Stellar Online Community Member Posts: 321 Pioneering

    Undermining PIP, as well as the universal principle, is the whole point. that's why government ministers are deliberately claiming PIP is in an work benefit.

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing

    You haven't missed anything. You've proved what I've said here and elsewhere that people on means-tested benefits (as I was for many years) have little sympathy for people who stand to lose previously non means-tested benefits. Do we all have to have less than £16K before receiving a relatively small amount to deal with major disability? When I came off means-tested benefits I thought I'd be OK if I lived very frugally. It's been hard. Now it's getting harder. Yes. No doubt I'll be back on means-tested benefits.

  • FredFlintstone
    FredFlintstone Online Community Member Posts: 50 Contributor

    If they means test, I'd be totally reliant on my partners pension income to support me. Can't really see it getting enough support to be pushed through parliament. Let's get this first round of **** out of the way before we start driving ourselves insane with what else may come.

  • Trevor_PIP
    Trevor_PIP Online Community Member Posts: 356 Empowering
    edited June 21

    Funny this has come about... As I posted previously, a bank employee told me the DWP were checking bank accounts. I said, that will be for UC and she instantly replied "and PIP".... I said PIP is not means tested and she just gave me that look of are you sure....

    That said, the bank employee could be wrong, so don't be worrying!!

    PIP is not means tested for a reason, and to mean test it would be going back on the whole idea of the disability payment. This government are a disgrace.

    {Comment removed by moderator - uncivil}

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,690 Championing

    I'm the same - I have some savings from over 15 years ago (when I worked full time) - slowly, over the years, these savings have diminished - still over the cut off… used for various things like a wet-room extension (which saved the government thousands in home improvement grants).

    I am not exactly "loaded" and would miss my monthly PIP extremely badly.

    I just hope that they leave it non-means tested

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 2,466 Championing

    If they means test it I will become destitute and homeless but it appears that is what this callous government want.

  • sunshine1981
    sunshine1981 Online Community Member Posts: 254 Empowering

    I've read that this has been discussed for years. I'm really trying to not allow things to bother me, worrying about things before they happen can ruin your life and I'm really trying to stop myself from doing this. I think if you've paid NI then you should have a sickness benefit no matter your savings. If you haven't then you have UC benefit. No one can be left with no income and to live off their savings because eventually everyone will be on UC, it doesn't make sense. I think America have a benefit system liked to income or previous income and maybe we should too

  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,886 Championing

    There are many, that I know personally have no relevant reason to claim PIP at all due to their already large income. One friend has 5 homes scattered between England, France, Portugal, Australia and Miami. Additionally I am aware that he/they claim every benefit that the welfare state allows. This gives them a monthly income of close to £1000 a week including PIP.

    Surely for those that have more than enough income to live off should not be able to receive PIP/AA. Means testing is the only way that can make welfare payments fair.

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,560 Championing

    If I owned 5 homes across the globe I wouldn't claim PIP. I'd save myself the heartbreak.

    But that doesn't mean your friends ought not be entitled to it, though one could make a case for taxing it. The "relevant" reason is their disabling conditions.

    PIP claimants are not supposed to leave the UK for more than 4 weeks without telling the DWP. The entitlements for temporary absences are perhaps over generous, except in the case of medical treatment.

    I cannot imagine how your friends receive almost £1000 per week in DWP benefits. Their multiple homes are assets that, like income/ savings would certainly rule out anything means-tested.

    This story doesn't make sense.