Can I say I can’t do certain things in jobs that are usually expected due to ASD?

[resignedtoit]

I’m getting so much pressure to do certain jobs that I can’t do. I can’t do any public facing roles at all so retail is looking hugely problematic. I can’t do care work as I don’t like to touch others / be touched / deal with personal care. Yet retail and care are the only jobs apparently available to me and I have to job search.

I just can’t do it. Can I get PIP so that I don’t have to look for work as the stress is too much , I put all my energy into looking after my dc and the stress of just meetings and looking is impacting my parenting so an actual job is going to push me over the edge. Would I even get pip for ASD ? I am severely affected

Gardening? Council gardener. Data entry - you are obviously quite literate. Back office somewhere eg charity shop. Could you have a card with some phrases on for when you find you can't talk. Office cleaning happens when no one is there eg early/ late. Some physical exercise and exposure to daylight would help regulate your sleep too which might make other aspects of daily life more copable with.

You need to get proper help for it to improve your quality of life and improve your prospects.
You are unwell, maybe not physically but mentally you are.
Is your DH working?

You want a work capability assessment from universal credit.

My DS was put on limited capability for work, because of his ASD, its slightly more money and they stop hassling you about how many jobs you’re applying for.

PIP is completely separate - he still gets that just he’s found a job.

@Sxp

You are unwell, maybe not physically but mentally you are.

OP is autistic, not unwell

Okay, don't know if this will help, but people I know with autism do the following jobs;

Civil service (fully WFH)
Gardening
Self employed dressmaker
Some computer coding thing I don't fully understand (x3)
HR
Self employed selling their own knitted creations
Marketing comms (x2)
Self employed accountancy

Tell us you know absolutely nothing about Autism without telling us you know nothing about Autism, why don’t you!

It can be utterly debilitating with very real traits, needs and challenges that are nothing to do with a lack of resilience, effort or competence. It is a recognised disability.

When an Autistic person’s needs are met they can really fly. OP has needs that would be horrific in the environments she has described. There are jobs out there without the need for personal interactions, OP just needs to get advice from Autism advocates and find one that’s right for her.

@resignedtoit check out Autism Career Pathways: https://linktr.ee/autismcareerpathways

You are unwell, maybe not physically but mentally you are.

Bloody hell. Could you be any more clueless?

I say this as someone who is diagnosed ASD and ADD so do wind your neck in.
I have had a LOT of therapy and medication to help me; and it has helped.

OP, it might be an idea to post on the neurodiversity board, or ask for this to be moved over there.

The clueless randoms are going to keep posting unhelpfully.

She is unwell as she can’t cope! She needs a quality of life and that’s what I said.

@Sxp autism isn't illness.

She's suffering stress co-morbidly ATM because she's being pressured into doing things she can't cope with.

PIP does not exempt you from work unfortunately. I have enhanced PIP for physical disabilities. I'm mostly wheelchair bound and also have chronic pain and chronic fatigue as part of a much bigger condition. I am unable to work at the moment as I'm not managing my pain and so I have to be signed off work by the doctor. Before a UC assessment for LCWRA can be carried out I'll have to be signed off for a long time! So it's your doctor you need to discuss it with, not UC or PIP.
My husband has ASD and no qualifications but earns a reasonable living doing a job that involves mostly logistics. He manages his own schedule and works mostly from home. The ASD limits him in many ways but actually makes him very organised so logistics works perfectly for him. His employers are very supportive and help him overcome barriers, make adjustments when needed. I absolutely know that it's not easy to fall into a job like that, but attitude plays a big part. My son is also autistic and in our house we are not allowed to say "I can't" instead we encourage each other to focus on what we can do and strive to find a way to overcome challenges. It won't be easy, but there will be a job out there that you CAN do.

@Sxp

I think this isn't the place for you. It's clearly making you angry because we don't all take the same simplistic view

You were disrespectful asking OP if she had a diagnosis of autism, how dare you? You wouldn't have questioned someone who said they had diabetes, would you? And you have a nerve to tell me to wind my neck in

OP is looking for support here and you are not offering any.

@JeandeServiette I agree. I could feel my anger rising there with that post!

That is what I thought when I read your post OP. You sounded like you had a touch of agoraphobia about you. Maybe look into that, you seem to be limiting your life chances at present. It's your choice but I'd def see if there is any help you can get to overcome this. Good luck

*Zebedee999 · Today 09:05

I don't understand how you can say you don't like meeting people (rules out retail) or touching people (rules out care) basically anything a job needs you can't do. Does this mean you never leave the house or go to a pub or supermarket etc? How did you meet your partner? I'm curious how you function day to day with these limitations?*

You obviously don’t know anything about ASD. My dd is exactly like this. We are claiming pip for her.

OPYou will absolutely be entitled to it. You may have to fight to get it. But you are unable to communicate in working situations. Communicating and socialising are two of the points on pip. ASD is a communication disorder.

OP, I don’t think this thread is going to help you. I’m so sorry that people can’t be more supportive.

It doesn’t matter what job someone’s cousin’s friend who is also autistic does. Your restrictions are valid and you are allowed not to work. It doesn’t matter whether anyone else understands why.

You are almost certainly eligible for PIP from what you say. I work in this area. Your difficulty is likely to be getting the evidence to support your claim, as you say you rarely visit the GP. You may be turned down and have to do a mandatory reconsideration. If you can at all afford it I would recommend using a specialist service to help you. If not, go to CAB.

Have you asked to be referred to the disability adviser at the Jobcentre yet, OP?

They get mixed reviews but it's worth a go.

@Zebedee999

You sounded like you had a touch of agoraphobia about you

Good god it's juts getting worse

OP is autistic. There are lots of reasons for OP to choose to stay in her safe space and none of them are 'a touch' of fucking agoraphobia

I'm so sorry your thread has gone wrong OP - I think people see medical dramas and think they are specialists

Criteria for PIP include a reliability criterion which means that the claimant needs to be able to carry out a task repeatedly and safely. So going to the shop once a week is not the same as attending work day in day out, in terms of processing and sensory demands. It is also not considered reliable if there is a detrimental effect - someone can carry out a task and it leads to shutdown.

What about evening or morning office cleaning to start with ? The offices are usually empty.
If you didn't go to school what about trying to get some qualifications online ?
What about training as a virtual PA ?
Then you would only really communicate by email ?
Can you talk on the phone ?
Must be so hard

I would put in a claim for PIP

But, be prepared to be turned down and have to go to tribunal, you could be looking at a 2 year wait for it.

Echo what other people have said about work capability assessment

She would need interviews for these. Situational mutism probably prevents her from doing these. This is why she can’t work.

You need to contact job centre plus ask for an assessment for ESA. Claiming pip is different and doesn't exempt you from signing on and job searches.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance&ved=2ahUKEwjPrZiyiuP_AhW_g_0HHczQATAQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2L9WYO_q-hESTnD8DV1YA7