PIP for high functioning autism?

[Saramia]

The specialist who diagnosed me with autism told me to apply for PIP. I struggle with social situations and people exclude me because they don’t like me. This makes it difficult to get a job because employers also don’t like me. When I have managed to get work, I’ve been sacked for being “weird”, eg sitting in the cupboard on my lunch break because it’s dark and nobody can talk to me.

I applied for PIP but got 0 points because I’m functional and independent. I have no physical disabilities. I can cook, eat, wash and dress myself. I can drive and with the help of satnav I can get around (going to unfamiliar places makes me anxious but I have ways to cope with that). I can read and I’m qualified to postgraduate level. I can express and understand verbal information - I don’t like talking to people and it makes me anxious and they dislike me, but the PIP criteria are focused on whether I CAN do it, and I can. To get even a single point you have to use an aid or appliance to communicate, or receive support with communicating, and I don’t.

There’s nothing in the PIP criteria which covers “I can force myself to talk to people for a short period and we can understand each other, but afterwards I’ll be shaking and possibly have a meltdown, and I certainly can’t cope with being exposed to people for an 8 hour shift every day”. PIP is only focused on the first part - ie I CAN do it. It makes no provision for the meltdown I have after forcing myself to do it, or the constant anxiety I feel if others are around and might try to speak to me.

I went back to my GP and she said “but you’re unable to work due to autism so you should get PIP?” But it seems that PIP doesn’t actually cover my difficulties. It’s for people who CAN’T function - it’s not for people who can force themselves to function but experience great anxiety and panic whilst doing so. It’s not for people who can function but get discriminated against by others and that’s why they don’t function. PIP is to pay for care needs - it’s not for people who don’t specifically need care but are excluded from work due to their disability, and it’s not for people who need money to live on because they’re not working due to their disability.

I have the option to appeal the decision and they’ve booked me in for a face to face meeting, but I’m considering cancelling because I don’t feel like I can show any evidence that I’m unable to function. Because I can function. Maybe only for short periods, with a lot of anxiety, and I frequently get discriminated against and blocked from what I want to do, but in the most basic sense I CAN function. Which seems to indicate that I’m not entitled to any benefits?

But how can we do that without money? You can’t ’full stop’ when it relies on a finite resource that is dwindling because too many people do not work.

Yes, what do people think the 'D' in ASD stands for?

Everyone on this thread who seem oblivious to the cost and realities of being disabled are truly blessed

There are many other things that should be looked at before cutting disability benefits.

Pip and dla have nothing to do with working. Maybe research disability benefits before commenting.

I work. I also get PIP.

The PIP wasn't easy to get and I didn't apply until one of my consultants sat me down and said you need to apply for it.

I am able to work because the process for getting adjustments was made immeasurably easier by having pip. It's awful to have to ask for any kind of adjustment and the fact that it became automatic when I got pip was so much of a relief.

I work. I work full time. And I earn WELL.

I'm paying tax. Even David Cameron claimed DLA for his son because it was so much of a gateway benefit ffs.

No but they cost money - money we don’t have. I get so frustrated with posters who disingenuously pretend not to believe the money we have is finite and dwindling and we cannot afford to mitigate everybody’s discomfort.

Do you have the same issue with child benefit? Or subsidised childcare?

PIP enables people to work. I know a lot of folks on it who would be stuck at home staring at the wall if they were not on PIP.
It is a payment given to people with disabilities so they are on an even financial keel with people that are not disabled.
Basically, if you are disabled, it should not cost you any money. David Cameron claimed it for one of his children.

Nobody chooses to be disabled, being disabled is incredibly expensive. What do you expect people to do.

Where are you getting your 'facts' from, your vast personal experience? The only persons circumstances you actually know are your own and it's both arrogant and ignorant to assume you know and have any right to presume you do, you only know what other people tell you and they might not divulge private information or needs to such an... Open minded person . Read the whole thread and your posts have got worse to read

OP seems to have less ‘expenses’ than I do, and I pay my own. If she’s out of work I assume she’s claiming UC, what does she actually need PIP for? It’s not unreasonable to query this as disability benefits are hurtling towards a point where we won’t be able to pay them and the very disabled will be badly impacted

I work, so by your reasoning I shouldn't be claiming pip either?

GoodnightAdeline

OP seems to have less ‘expenses’ than I do, and I pay my own. If she’s out of work I assume she’s claiming UC, what does she actually need PIP for? It’s not unreasonable to query this as disability benefits are hurtling towards a point where we won’t be able to pay them and the very disabled will be badly impacted

If you bothered to read Op's posts you would know she isn't entitled to UC.

My DD is similar -she got PIP using Fightback , they are amazing -she paid £80 for a form filling appointment. She gets her partially for the after effects of socialising as you describe - ie she can only mask for a certain timeframe which makes full time work almost impossible.
You can definitely get it!

I can't comment on op circumstances but I can tell you what my pip money goes on and that's hospital transport (i often have multiple appointments every week and my consultants are spread across the country), private therapy (which then saves the nhs money) a cleaner and aides to help me around the home I also spend a lot of money on deliveries as I can't leave the house easily so everything I need is delivered.

At some point, UC is being overhauled.. and only people on PIP would be able to claim the sickness element. Which is fucking nuts.

You can spend pip on anything….I don’t get any support or therapies but get pip…..doesn’t sound like you would qualify as you are able to function well within the descriptors

This is incorrect from what the OP describes.

They have to do something, there’s no money. Like none.

To be fair, unless they are disabled themselves, or have experience from a family member etc... then they will not necessarily have an insight into how having a disability can, and does impact ones finances. That is where they should really start listening to people who do, and are saying the ways in which they are impacted. Instead of dismissing what people are saying, because they feel differently.

GoodnightAdeline
They have to do something, there’s no money. Like none.

So where did they get the just under £180m on MPs and peers expenses for the last three years, maybe we could start the 'they have to do something' there?

100%

They can consider how to raise more money, then, or make cuts elsewhere.