Means Testing PIP - Whats everyone thoughts?

As for attacks or whatever, I don't feel attacked, but many of the messages posted haven't been very friendly.

I can imagine the assumptions, both direct and indirect, that have been touted and the aggressive questioning of just one person can very much come across as an attack

These sorts of comments are divisive, and full of assumptions and some are just outright rude:

“Did you genuinely not consider others would question your rationale/lack of knowledge/naivety” and “unconsidered/uniformed/trope-laden”

– not exactly friendly and saying someone lacks knowledge or is naïve because they have a different opinion is quite frankly rude and insulting.

“Means testing would punish disabled people who have shown resilience, financial discipline and self-sacrifice, those who have scrimped, saved and relied on their own modest resources to fill gaps in support.”

– indirectly saying that disabled people without savings haven’t shown resilience, financial discipline, self-sacrifice and don’t scrimp. I’d say someone living on just £316 a month is scrimping and showing huge financial discipline and resilience too!! Although I'm sure it wasn't meant this way, especially from this poster, it's easy to see why someone may feel hurt by the implication!!

“Do you not consider it 'unfair' to those (like me and many others) who pushed through our disabilities and worked for 40+ years, paying tax to support those claiming disability benefits, to now be denied the same benefits because we pushed through until we were no longer able to do so?”

– no one said that at all and it’s putting words and assumptions into others mouths. It’s also pushing the human-capital agenda that worth and entitlement is based on how much you ‘pay in’ or work.

IF PIP became means tested, I would hope the threshold marker would be much higher than for other means tested benefits. I would also hope that it went on income only and did not take into account any savings.

But I do agree there are some, probably not that many, whose income could more than cover any additional expenses a disability brings, but I'm talking celebrities and politicians here rather than someone in an everyday (even if highly paid) job.

If they means test PIP, I think they should increase the benefit cap before means testing it.

Maybe they should be basing it on people who have other income outside of benefits, my next door neighbour is retired on private pension with paid off house, her husband still works and they have 3 cars, they are forever going on holiday and they run christmas lights 24/7 over the christmas period, they look on PIP as a bonus to fund towards their holidays.

I don't mean to judge, but surely people who are already well off and can afford their own medical expenses and not limited to claiming benefits, perhaps don't need PIP as urgently?

I also think this stupid thing of people who are saving for a rainy day should not impact benefits, by all means over a certain limit, but if you are saving up for an advance on a motability car or implants or something you get penalised by them reducing your benefit?

Means testing PIP means more disabled people will die because they lack the money to survive. supporting means testing PIP means supporting eugenics and democide, especially given what Starver's government have already done, and tried to do.

Also why shouldn't disabled people be able to live abroad and claim PIP if they're eligible? Only a tiny minority cliamants are eligible anyway (Brexit largely put an end to that).

Doubly so for savings. Fact of the matter is the state pension and default wages are no enough, so if a disabled people can claim PIP and use it to help save/invest money, they shouldn't.

It's a yes for me and if we can vote on it i will vote for means testing it

{comment removed by moderator - uncivil}

Thanks for your post. I don't know a lot about other benefits, but I know something about PIP. Point taken on what you have a stated and what you have to manage on. And yes it does pay to work with a high paying job, but I was pointing out because you worked and have savings you could possibly lose your PIP due to means testing, when it was always a benefit for all with a disability.

In addition if you are referring to the last paragragh, I was quoting from an article I found when searching for the latest on mean testing PIP. This Organisation is advising the government on what they should be doing to make savings I gather.

The Organisation is the Centre for Social Justice. I have found the article again, so I can post what they are advising the government on. I will have to edit this post!

However, the Centre for Social Justice argues that the rising number of PIP claims are contributing to a significant gap between welfare and work that needs immediate attention.

The report suggests that a person who is economically inactive and on Universal Credit, including the average housing element to cover their rent, and also receiving PIP, would have a taxpayer-funded Government income of around £25,000 - this increases to £27,500 for those awarded the highest rate of PIP.

However, this amount drops to £22,550 once the welfare bill's cut to the Universal Credit health element for new claimants is considered.

In contrast, a full-time worker earning the National Living Wage (NLW) is projected to make £22,500 after paying income tax and National Insurance, creating a £2,500 disparity between work and welfare for existing claimants.

The Centre for Social Justice argues that the gap widens even further when additional benefits are factored in.

As I was pointing out in that previous post, you can be better off on the sick! It has been quoted that this is an issue in this country.

Point taken. I used the quote in a different context but I see your point. I wasn't meaning you get more money from benefits than working. You are definitely better off working!

I am in similar in that I am so worried what will happen yo those of us who may be affected in means testing is introduced, as if we suddenly lose entitlement and are then regarded as not being disabled and

left destitute.

So unfair.

So Why start a thread?? If you not looking for a debate??