Good news

Honestly, the big problem is that there was a high profile fraud case in UC (which had nothing to do with real claimants, disabled or otherwise) that grabbed the headlines not long ago. This, coupled with the mismanagement and errors during the pandemic (again, which had nothing to do with real claimants, disabled or otherwise) has made benefits (again) an easy target for "fraud prevention". Those incidents have pushed the UC fraud % up unfairly, and we know that fraud in PIP is currently nonexistent.

When I went through my PIP claim/appeal/tribunal, I felt all the way that they were constantly threatening me about one thing or another, and essentially accusing me of lying. But the only evidence that contradicted my claim were the reports from the assessor and MR reviewer. So where is the fraud, then, really? Is denying a legitimate claim on spurious reasons not the same as claiming for a condition you don't have? And why is there nobody taking action on that? Labour challenged the previous govt about these things, but now they're running the DWP, it's all change. The DWP's influence and lack of accountability is the biggest problem we all face. They are being given more and more powers to do as they like, despite how many people keep telling the govt (whichever govt - let's not forget that the previous govt are as guilty here in all of this) that it's not working.

I didn't vote Labour, but the direction of other parties (Tories, Reform) with their impetus to get rid of the ECHR and such is worse news for us, so we're genuinely stuck in a difficult situation. I didn't vote for those people, either - but until we change the mindset of people outside the benefit system that a: the system is unnecessarily cruel and b: the vast majority of its victims are struggling genuine claimants, not lazy, not scroungers, not faking it…then we won't really ever have protection. The Equalities Act exists but it doesn't really represent us the way the DDA did. At least, the DDA was for disabled people. The EA has pushed us down to the bottom rung, so equality concerns we face are far less publicised or important than those faced by other groups. There's also a lack of understanding how people being in various different groups impacts their life, because no person is one defining criteria, everyone is a mixture.

The link about autism assessments doesn't surprise me. I'm very glad I had my diagnosis back in 2005, but it's a big reason why I haven't gone back for an ADHD assessment, even though I fit the AuDHD criteria pretty well - because there are so many people waiting for assessment that I don't want to take up space in the queue. I already have a diagnosis, and I'll make do with that. (And my navigational disorder only seems to be assessed for in Canada, so that's not helpful. NHS apparently haven't heard of Developmental Topographical Disorientation yet…)

Catherine, I agree with you. PIP is a mess, but I'm more scared of them changing it.
I had permanent DLA on a permanent autism diagnosis, and then they 'changed it' to PIP, at which point I was apparently 'cured' and didn't need any support at all…

People with invisible disabilities always come off harshest in any of these processes. But the toll it takes on us is exponential and they just don't see it. It's like being actually invisible while people talk around and over you.

Back when I claimed DLA I could just get on with my life and I did pretty ok. But since the PIP claim I've been terrified of the DWP and of everything govt are doing around disability. It's not that I let it rule my life, but I'm definitely giving more energy to dealing with that uncertainty now compared to pre-2017 when I didn't have to think so much about 'being disabled' and 'quantifying my experiences'…I just got on with my life and felt supported.

At this point it would be less harmful for PIP to be left alone than reformed in my opinion.

I received a response from the local MP, I've put it in Albus's thread about contacting your MP. I don't know if it'll ease anyone's mind but I thought I'd mention it.