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

Sorry for the uber long link but this is what you need to be asking about.

ESA is only for people who have worked and paid NI in the past 2 or 3 years. It doesn't sound as though that applies.

OP can get "a limited capacity for work related activity" element on her UC which will achieve something similar.

Some of the replies on here are awful and show no understanding of ASD and how disabling it can be

@resignedtoit Just incase you haven't seen it, there's now a Neurodiverse Mumsnetters topic, it's not very busy but you at least get understanding replies there so it's a much nicer place to post With regards to your OP, it is possible to get both PIP and the LCWRA part of UC due to ASD, and it sounds like this would be a good idea for you. Obviously I can only go by what you've posted, but it sounds to me like you're on the verge of 'burnout' and it's important to look after yourself so this doesn't progress

As others have said, don't try and fill in the forms yourself, there is loads of help available these days from charities and local advice centres

I would also see if you have a functioning ASD Adult Intervention Service in your area... my local one can provide ASD Social Workers and Support Carers, and help with benefit applications. But it is definitely dependent on area unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any consistency

Could you do something office based for a small firm, my DH employs someone for 16 hours a week with a similar capacity (although not identical) who is a fantastic employee, he made his needs clear during his interview which my DH felt he was able to accommodate. He works in his own space with no f2f with clients although via email but he does have daily communication with a handful of colleagues although I guess this kind of work may not be widely available? Just a thought.

She’s suffering ASD burnout.

Forcing herself to do stuff she struggles with will make it worse.

Ah OK sorry if thatsr mis information op but do get into uch with the job centre about your capacity to work. Take somebody with to every appointment .

@resignedtoit I meant to also say that if you apply for and get the LCWRA part of UC, it means you don't have to look for work at all. You can still look for work that suits you if you want, but it takes the pressure off while you are doing this. It also means you can work limited hours without them pushing you to do more

OP, it might be worth posting for PIP and work-related advice on the ND Mumsnetters' board, as many of us there have experience of these issues:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/neurodiverse_mumsnetters

That’s great 😊 They’re crying out for cleaners in most areas. You could communicate by text? The cleaning companies around here are often small and you choose your hours, then get texted the jobs. Lots of times the house-owner isn’t even in. If they will be and you/your company said something vague like you had a speech difficulty, then you wouldn’t be expected to engage in chat.

There are also business cleaning jobs where you clean after hours (ie no-one there you need to communicate with) and holiday property cleaning and hotel cleaning.

She is not mentally unwell. she has a recognised condition autism which effects communication and sensory issues.
I'm sorry ur going through this I don't have any advice just sympathic hug as have autistic daughter so can relate.

Lots of cleaning roles are before a setting opens or after- of course the timing might not be suitable with other commitments but around here certainly it's actually very well paid. My neighbour struggles with quite a lot of things to be honest but she cleans in a school before it opens and then an office block later on and she absolutely loves it, not much if any social interaction either.

I teach in a specialist autism provision school - we have cleaning vacancies come up and I'd hazard a guess we could make adjustments to meet your needs so there must be similar places to us in your area.

Cleaning for people who go out to work might be possible. Most of your communication could be done by text message. Pos cleaning offices at night time/ schools after hours etc.

Are you really trapped staying exactly the way you are, or can your condition improve.

Most people with ASD aren't as limited by it as you are by yours.

Most people with any neurocogn problem can learn to deal with at least some situations they used to find challenging, and to develop coping strategies to make their condition less limiting than it otherwise might be.

It sounds like you've been told that you are stuck how you are & nothing can change. That you can't change it.

Yes I am actually well aware of this. The symptoms of ASD and ADD do cause mental unwellness, which she needs help with

Lots of people who claim PIP work as well so having PIP will still mean you have to look for work if you are on UC. Could you work in a warehouse packing things into boxes? Often you might be there alone eg putting gloves into boxes, then packing up a big box with 100 small boxes with gloves in. Then sealing the box then repeating. It's boring but anyone can do it.

Maybe some sort of production operative work would suit you? A lot of it is automated these days but there is still plenty of factory and warehouse work around. A family member has a bakery business that supplies supermarkets and they employ packers, I was thinking something like that wouldn't involve interaction or would have plenty of scope for reasonable adjustments.

You can’t offer support if you don’t ask questions! But by all means you carry on ‘supporting’ because DWP won’t be and they will be ‘disrespecting’ and will ask about diagnosis.
Been there it’s shit and was actually trying to help a fellow suffer…

As others have said, you can claim PIP regardless of working status.

It is available for some non-physical conditions e.g. ASD. I have 2 friends who get it for that reason, one who is currently volunteering (she works in a charity shop, she doesn't do shop floor or till, but my God the store has never been so well organised!!!) And one who works part-time from home. My DSis had it for a while - she has ASD and doesn't normally claim as she is fine working (IT support from home - she's very successful) but she had a bad patch after a car accident where everything just became too much for her and she couldn't leave the house or answer phone calls.

It's great that you've identified cleaning as a possible option. Look into anti-social hours - the pay is a little better as fewer people want it, and you get less/no social interaction. Or doing people's houses - the best majority want you to do it while they are out at work, so no interaction after first meeting. If you can get a good reference an agency might be able to find you a way round even that.

Other options - can you drive? Delivering for many companies no longer involves interaction as you ring the doorbell and just leave the package, no need to stay for someone to open the door.

PIP will hopefully help you get through a tough patch. But it's great if you can have an eye on opportunities that mean you won't be so limited in the long run. More money, structure to your day, a feeling id purpose... there are lots of benefits to working if you can find something manageable. Don't give up, OP! You can do it!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow yes I realise that now.
I think it's going to be very difficult if you can't go for an interview though.
Can you take someone with you @resignedtoit would that help ?

Utterly ridiculous statement! Why would they google when they could actually ask the question of somebody who is living through it? It's called exchange of information, it's how people learn.

Think of what you could do as opposed to what you can’t do. A technical job where you don’t interact with others and receive and pass off work which you could do from home. Then, look into what areas that would be in and how you start to train and get quals.

I have one with ASD, OCD, GAD etc and they have a great job - for them. Most people would hate it but they thrive. They work as a single unit, they only deal sparing with a few people and it’s those who talk the same ‘technical language’, they are just left to it really. Don’t work as part of a greater team and don’t do any of those team/company meetings etc. Have their own office but are able to fully wfh, they just don’t want to as they have a routine of going to the office everyday. Earn a fortune. They did have to go to uni and then afterwards pass challenging professional exams but the point is they sat down initially and thought ‘what CAN I do, and how do I position myself to do it’. Then worked towards it.

I think only 22% of autistic adults are in any type of employment so id say a lot are impacted. Perhaps you only bump into the people that are managing so think thats the majority

Is that all?! I wonder what percentage of able people are in employment

Can you try and get on a college course? That may open up more options?