Benefits should be a lifeline for those in need, not an ATM for those who don’t… we MUST end this £25bn free-for-all

WHEN it comes to benefits, the one that truly makes no sense to me at all is PIP. The Personal Independence Payment is designed to help with the extra living costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability but it’s become a bit of a free-for-all. Benefits should be a lifeline for those in need, not an ATM for those who don’t… we MUST end this £25bn free-for-all (pictured Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden) Credit: Getty PIP is designed to help with the extra living costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability but it’s become a bit of a free-for-all Credit: Getty You can claim it if you’re able to work and if you’re stinking rich too. How can that be right? Every year, it costs us taxpayers ­billions of pounds. Thankfully, that could soon change. Because the Institute for Fiscal Studies this week suggested a way to force those PIP claimants who truly don’t deserve our money to find another cash-point. By means-testing these payments, the Government could cut spending by a third and save up to £8.2billion. That means more money for those who really need support and less pressure on those taxpayers who are stumping up the cash. Which seems sensible. Why should taxpayers have to give money to those who don’t truly need it? The welfare state should be there for those who need a hand up — not those who’ve worked out how to keep their hand out. When the first benefits were brought in, they were paid to workers who faced sickness or unemployment who’d already paid into the scheme. It was called the National Insurance Act because it worked like an insurance policy. But now the benefits scheme is like the government piggy bank that just keeps on giving. It doesn’t care if you’ve paid in or not. With PIP it doesn’t matter if you’re rich either. But the IFS suggests PIP becomes part of the main unemployment benefit, Universal Credit, which is already means-tested so it could make sure the money goes to the people who truly need it. Why nobody thought of this before is baffling. Obviously there will be the laziest in society who will work that little bit less to get under the financial threshold. But the clever think-tank people said that even if some did this there would “still be a large saving”. Since PIP was introduced in 2013, the payouts have gone from £200million a year to around £25BILLION a year. The number claiming is a record high, with 4.09million people currently entitled. By 2030-31, it is predicted that bill could be £34billion. Andy Burnham says he wants to tackle the welfare bill without making “crude cuts” that could push struggling people further into poverty Credit: EPA PIP could become part of the main unemployment benefit, Universal Credit, which is already means-tested Credit: Getty And that’s because PIP is handed out too freely. It’s so often easy money. And PIP often stands for People Inventing Problems. You don’t even need a face-to-face assessment to get your hands on it. You simply fill in a form and off you go. Claiming it has become a big, lucrative business and it’s the easiest way to fiddle the system. This newspaper has repeatedly shown how it can be so easily exploited. We have exposed the dominatrix claiming £1,000 a month PIP for her “severe disability” and the woman who said she couldn’t even wash herself and had difficulty standing but then worked behind a bar. Then we highlighted how social media “sickfluencers” are using their inside knowledge to help claimants get their hands on the readies. Andy Burnham says he wants to tackle the welfare bill without making “crude cuts” that could push struggling people further into poverty. Clamping down on PIP so the cash went to those who truly deserve it wouldn’t be crude. It would be the right thing to do. Benefits should be a lifeline for those who need them — not an ATM for those who don’t. Annoying relatives? Stick it to ’em, Kate Kate takes got hold of a stick and gave it some real welly at Bute Shinty Club Credit: PA WHEN William and Kate visited Bute Shinty Club, she got hold of a stick and gave it some real welly. Don’t mess with her! If she was thinking about the dodgy relatives who she’d currently like to slam that into, it probably helped. YOU might think The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence would have better things to do (like dealing with our shameful NHS) – but no, it’s wasted a load of time looking at how Botox and fillers are a mental health red flag. They say clinics must look for signs of OCD or body dysmorphic disorders in their customers and ask why they want to alter their looks. I’ve been having Botox for more than 20 years. And here’s the simple answer: to look younger, to feel better, to ditch the wrinkles. It’s not rocket science. Meg in parent trap Megahn, pictured with Harry, had her mobile number leaked Credit: Getty SOME will argue she was an idiot to put it on the school WhatsApp group, especially after her and Harry’s whinging over security, but I can’t help feeling sorry for Meghan after her mobile number was leaked this week. The parent who did this is a Class A clown. She was the new, nervous, looking-for-friends mum on the block and even up-yourself Meghan Markle would be devastated to be turned on. It’s ironic that she should get bullied but, as a mum, I can imagine how awful that was for her. I am in a school WhatsApp group. It’s a bit Motherland at times and there’s some super-efficient parents on there but I’m the “unorganised, got-too-much-on-my-plate, brain-like-a-sieve mum” who often asks for help. And more often than not, I get it. Meghan must have felt so deflated after she cheerily said hello to her new group. What happened was cruel. Let’s hope at the next school she finds a group of parents who don’t behave like children too. SATURDAY jobs and paper rounds are out for teenagers, according to new figures, because they want to make their cash from social media, gaming and side-hustles. That’ll be why my “paper boy” is a lovely man in his 60s, then. WINNER LEANNE THIS week I interviewed Leanne Brown. She’s a lovely, softly spoken woman who is a transformational coach, so I wasn’t surprised that she talks a lot of sense about building confidence, inner strength and overcoming grief. But I was surprised about how she spoke about footballer Wes. They’re heading for divorce but she’s still championing him. She talks about him with respect, care and affection. I know that’s not always easy after a break-up. But wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all be a bit more like this. It would alleviate a lot of stress and heartache for both the adults and the kids involved. GIVE IT A REST, DEAR Paloma Faith says ‘Free Palestine’ to her young kids every night, even though one suffers from anxiety Credit: Shutterstock Editorial WHAT did you say to your kids before bed last night? I said to my seven-year-old: “I wonder if the tooth fairy will come?” (She did. I got a very big, gappy smile in return for my £1 this morning). But while criticising Ed Sheeran for his “political neutrality”, singer Paloma Faith claimed: “I say, ‘Free Palestine’ to my children every night. I think children should be exposed to politics.” Paloma, who has children aged nine and five, plus a newborn, has also said in the past that her eldest suffers from anxiety. No wonder. Fair enough if you want an adult political battle, and obviously you want kids to be aware of what is going on in the world and have empathy and understanding. But their childhood won’t last forever. There’s no need to give them nightmares. DARTS ace Luke Littler is on a DIET. No skinny jab for him. He’s having calorie-controlled meals delivered to his home. How wonderfully old-fashioned and refreshing. It’s no joke HUMOUR is part of our culture. We are proud of it – it is one of our USPs.To lose the ability to share that would be a tragedy. But comedy venues are in crisis and shutting their doors. Comedians say the venues need business rates relief, zero VAT on tickets and for comedy to be fully recognised by the Arts Council. One of those fighting for change is Jason Manford, who is also the man who lights up my family’s Christmas. He takes to the stage for the festive panto in Manchester every year. But ticket prices are no laughing matter. I get around it by buying them as The Geordie’s Christmas present. Comedy should be helped so it can be made more accessible to everyone. Then we will all have something to smile about.