Benefits - £1900 per month

I don't mean I'd like to know the secret in order to abuse the system FGT2. I mean I don't understand how it is possible to game the system, because from my first hand experience it's like getting blood out of a stone even if you have the kind of lifelong, severe problems my brother suffers.

I can see why some people prefer not to work.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Perhaps with less spurious ‘claimants’ taking up time as well as resources, proper effort and respectful consideration could be given to genuine deserving cases. We can only hope.

I hope so too.

Churchview

I don't mean I'd like to know the secret in order to abuse the system FGT2. I mean I don't understand how it is possible to game the system, because from my first hand experience it's like getting blood out of a stone even if you have the kind of lifelong, severe problems my brother suffers.

I completely understand what you mean, because I've seen at first hand how difficult it can be to get the benefits to which you are genuinely entitled.

I hear you Churchfield. I didn’t think you meant that for one minute. I feel for your distress concerning your brother. It must be so stressful.

However, we do all know the benefit system IS being gamed by some. Mental health has been described as the new backache. Hard to disprove if one reads up on the internet/has friends in the know/are savvy.

It is this injustice that must end it is beyond ridiculous.

The benefits system for disablement are a bit clunky- not flexible enough. Sometimes people with very restricted mobility are turned down for PIP for instance. A vulnerable older nonverbal autistic child who can run like the wind but will run into the road or run and hide if spooked is entitled to DLA.
I have friends with very severely disabled children. It’s a very hard life even with two parents - and the children can’t fly the nest when they reach adulthood- they still need 24 hour care. It can also affect other children in the family- who can’t do what other families do because the disabled child cannot go there. Parenting a severely disabled child often means 24 hour care- regular hospital admissions ( parent goes too) and this goes on for decades. The main carer parent cannot work ( unless both parents share caring and flexible working). Children with less severe disabilities such as autism or ADHD may need a parent on hand - at home for many years longer than a normally developing child.
Motorbility cars are only available to lease for those getting the highest PIP or DLA mobility awards.
The benefits system is a bit clunky, but it recognises that disablement can be costly - in all sorts of ways.
Most parents want the best for their children and will do their best to support them.

That sum isn't much for two people,
particularly when one is disabled.

mabon1

That sum isn't much for two people,
particularly when one is disabled.

It may be for more than two people.

Wyllow3

I'm perhaps more aware than many becuase I have an extremely disabled GD. almost no sight, learning disabled, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She does of course go to a special school and gets transport there. The other children in the school all have extremely high levels of need and families need every bit of help they can get. Most of them will never be able to live even in a group home when they grow up.

So it does make me fed up generally when we get a series of individual stories of "how the system is exploited" without considering how desperately many do need help, when I know about all these children and the effects on the whole family life long.

There’s far far more genuine people, barely scraping by, than living the high-life and cheating benefits.

Frankly, I’m far more concerned by those who are working and not paying their full taxes, most especially the self employed and I know one or two doing just this!

Following an accident meaning it was impossible to do our origional jobs we were out of work for almost 8 months. We budgeted carefully. Cut back and didn't holiday. Didn't have days out that cost money. We packed picnic lunches and did a lot of walking with the kids . We sold some items and friends kept our spirits up. The system propped us up until we were able to get back to work . Part of the problem is that there are people who have never worked so to get back to independence is a concept they simply can't understand. Sad really.

I worked in mental health for many years. I was always astounded at the amount of benefits someone can get ..after rent paid , council tax paid and with free dental and prescriptions. Plus some used their diagnosis to openly brag ' I get paid ££ per hour by you tax payers and for doing no work '
The way benefits system works is unfair and needs overhaul.
Many of my clients were receiving far more cash in the bank than hard working colleagues who did an extremely job.And with little thanks

Re disability cars. Cane across abusevif tge system quite iften in my sicial care roll. Worst one was old gentleman who had mobility car through scheme. When asked where he kept the car he joyfully declared he didn't use it as he had given it to his GD who really needed a car. GD lived 220 miles away!

Probably a plant. I certainly do not trust the BBC to do anything other than reinforce the narrative

I'm not it's a lifestyle for some! I have been told of 2 thar are on benefits get that plus rent,council tax etc paid Lovely car 2 holidays abroad 1 winter,1 summer! And both are on drugs!!! Yes some genuinely need help, not a problem but....

Just watching the news, filming from Yorkshire. Two mother's, both single, with three children each, living on benefits saying they missed meals so their little children can eat. Why would anyone without a partner choose to have three children for the tax payers to pay for them. It’s their choice, contraception is easily available. Where are the father's? Do they not work either? That needs sorting.

Perhaps they had a partner who left them with three children and wouldn't pay child maintenance? Or their partner died? I was left with two children when my husband became an ex. He paid maintenance but queried everything.

Mojack26

I'm not it's a lifestyle for some! I have been told of 2 thar are on benefits get that plus rent,council tax etc paid Lovely car 2 holidays abroad 1 winter,1 summer! And both are on drugs!!! Yes some genuinely need help, not a problem but....

Then they are committing fraud and either working on the side or dealing drugs.

There’s no way in a trillion years that benefits could fund two cars and two foreign holidays a year.

Allsorts

Just watching the news, filming from Yorkshire. Two mother's, both single, with three children each, living on benefits saying they missed meals so their little children can eat. Why would anyone without a partner choose to have three children for the tax payers to pay for them. It’s their choice, contraception is easily available. Where are the father's? Do they not work either? That needs sorting.

How utterly judgement, they could be widowed, divorced or simply never married and children’s father/s buggered off!

Allsorts

Just watching the news, filming from Yorkshire. Two mother's, both single, with three children each, living on benefits saying they missed meals so their little children can eat. Why would anyone without a partner choose to have three children for the tax payers to pay for them. It’s their choice, contraception is easily available. Where are the father's? Do they not work either? That needs sorting.

You could be talking about my young friend.
5 children, all wanted loved very much. One of them severely disabled.
All supported by her husband. Then one day he went to work and died of a heart attack aged 42. The disabled child was 2 years old.
But if believing these interviews feeds your prejudice, crack on.

A take-home pay of £1900 a month is equivalent to around £22000 a year after tax and NI - way below average.

I don't think that is an excessive amount, assuming it doesn't cover housing, particularly when it is being claimed to support a disabled child.

It took me 35 years of fighting to get disability benefits. Even when I finally got my diagnosis with my disability I was born with plus born with a hole in the side of my heart. I was 63 when I had my neurological condition diagnosed through whole genome genetically tested. I was always refused benefits because of no diagnosis. Even with my diagnosis and how disabled I am PIP still have me zero on everything.

Luckily the Brain Charity got me a solicitor pro bono and took 18 months to get too tribunal. And they where lovely . The judge apologised how I had been treated but could only back date my payments to the date I asked from the forms in March 2022 my tribunal was August 2023. I was awarded enhanced PIP for living and enhanced PIP for mobility indefinitely. The decision came on crown court paper .

Even when my husband was terminal we where told not worth applying for DLA and carers allowance. But DWP after our GP told us to. Our McMillan nurse filled in the forms . My husband was given 4 months to 2 years to live he died 4 days after his 47th birthday just short of the 4 months .

My dad was not allowed any allowance and mom couldn't get carers allowance when he was dieing . I looked after him with my mom .

I also looked after my mother in law .

When my mom had cancer and dementia and lived with me for her last 18 months . I was only allowed 6 months carers allowance as I was told by DWP my mom would get better. Dementia killed my mom 4 months before her body died. I looked after my mom on my own .

Anyone who thinks disability benefits are easy to get has never been through what I ordered my family has.

I agree, from voluntary work helping people claim benefits or challenge decisions not to award them, that there are far more people struggling to get the awards to which they are entitled than making false claims.
On the other hand, I struggle to understand the fairness of a system where some people’s disability incurs huge costs whereas others don’t actually need to spend more money because of their condition, yet they might all receive the same amount of money. For example I have met people who accumulate money because they are too unwell to do anything other than eat and sleep. Not a great life, but what they need is more help to get well rather than more money. A more effective NHS, earlier diagnosis and better treatments will help many, especially those with mental health problems.

I should not have mentioned people in the news as don't know their circumstsnces,I,was making the point that there are those that make it a life choice. Never mentioned disability or sickness as people whomare sufferening genuinely not being able to get it.

Doodledog

A take-home pay of £1900 a month is equivalent to around £22000 a year after tax and NI - way below average.

I don't think that is an excessive amount, assuming it doesn't cover housing, particularly when it is being claimed to support a disabled child.

I watched that programne and the £1900 was after the rent was paid, she will also get help with her council tax or get it paid. A disability travel pass, free prescriptions, wfa, help with dental payments and eyecare if required. Passported benefits add up to alot.
I do not begrudge the above if someone has bad health conditions, I would rather have
my health, however those who can work should.

LOUISA1523

crazyH

Doodledog - you’re right - more information is needed. What struck me was, the lady herself rang in to say that she felt she was receiving too much. A very honest lady, I should say.

That sounds about right
Universal credit will include rent, council tax, money to live on, pip, and disability enhancement for both herself and her DD
Say she gets full pip which is around £700 then say £700 rent £ 150 Council tax ....that leaves her less than 100 a week for food and bills....its not much...I couldnt live on it.. why do you think its a lot?

Not sure how you are working out they have £100 a week left to live on ? The PIP is £700 in addition to Universal credit and then whatever disability benefit the daughter gets also additional.