I don't know why but like every 6 months or so I see some kind of controversy surrounding the British Chinese takeaway, and this time it's the usual suspects moaning who claim that people on PIP shouldn't be allowed to buy takeaways because it's, quote, "a luxury paid for by actual taxpayers".
Im just tired.
As much as the government may try to convince people otherwise, PIP is not a means tested benefit, and it's not there to replace an actual wage. You can get PIP and still work. Its supposed to accommodate for the extra costs that come with being disabled, and most of the time it doesn't stretch nearly far enough but we make it work.
There are a lot of misconceptions around the PIP system as well that people who claim we're benefit scroungers like to throw around as a gotcha and theyre just not true.
Someone getting PIP does not mean they don't pay tax. And further to that, paying your taxes doesn't mean you get to dictate who gets PIP and how they use it
A lot of people who get PIP do or want to work. And even if they don't or can't it shouldn't matter because, again, it's not supposed to be a means tested or "out of work" benefit
The PIP fraud rate is one of the lowest benefit fraud rates in the country. The government, and the news and the rest of the country on their high horses will have you believing otherwise but they're wrong. The assessment process is one of the most demeaning things Ive ever gone through and the fact its been made harder due to reforms in recent years has not helped anyone.
The proposed voucher systems that keep getting tossed around simply will not work. Every person's needs are different. Some people's needs might be more complex than others. And I doubt the vouchers will take into account things like the money spent on the extra fuel to get to appointment, or the extra power to charge aids, or the food that had to be bought to meet dietary requirements.
Frankly I could not care less if someone who gets PIP does decide to treat themselves to a takeaway every now and then.
I know the people who moan about our very existence hate to acknowledge it but we are actually people to, and we are allowed nice things as well.
