0 points for PIP? (advice please)

[Catastropher]

Sorry I didn’t know where else to put this. I have autism and I haven’t worked for eight years because of it. I also have stomach issues. I applied for PIP and the DWP has rejected my application with 0 points.

I have no cognitive impairment because I drive a car.

I have no difficulty planning journeys because I drive a car and walk the dog round the block. Also I attended the assessment (which they forced me to attend otherwise I couldn’t get PIP).

I am able to cook and wash and budget etc (despite me saying I struggle) because I’m not cognitively impaired and I drive a car (a complex task).

There is no evidence of MH support (I’m on duloxetine and had 2 courses of therapy in the past year).

There is no evidence of nutritional support (I’m permanently under a dietitian, annual hospital reviews and blood tests, permanent prescriptions for vitamin supplements, bone scans every couple of years).

They said I can converse fully without prompting. I am diagnosed with autism!

I don’t know what else to do at this point. Does anyone have any advice please?

Years ago, I applied for DLA for my son, I sent off any reports I had from SALT and the educational psychologist he was under at the time as supporting evidence. He was awarded it. Maybe ask your GP if they have any letters on file you can use.

What did you say different? I’ve just had mandatory reconsideration refused and much like the op got 0 gain for everything - I’d be on the lower payment but things like budget for example I got 0 but I literally told them twice now that I have learning difficulties, neurodivergence and mental health problems that mean I can’t budget or do more than basic maths. So I’m like really am I just going to be made a fool of if I go to appeal? How can they say 0 points when you clearly have at least one measles point by the very virtue of having learning difficulties?

You can get a copy of your gp record which would have most medical ethers contained within. You need to go through each section and show medical evidence to back up what you're saying.

Even a letter from your gp would help. But they are correct saying there is no evidence of dietary issues because you haven't provided any.

Have a look at benefits and work (small charge) or A1 benefits on Facebook (free) for advice on how to complete a MR but unless you supply medical evidence, the result is unlikely to change.

You've told them that you have a diagnosis of a dietary condition so you need to show the consultants letter confirming this and showing why this requires you to be prompted to eat or need help prepping food.

Could I ask, and I think this might help some people wondering, if you have care needs which are met by a partner and therefore are not documentable, how are you supposed to prove this? For example, all cooking done by them, all washing done by them, budgeting overseen by them. And needs such as anxiety or ocd or a personality disorder or whatever where you don’t have “documentation” of its impact on you other than your word and a diagnosis letter?

and when you present well to the world but in private you’re a mess - I mean I had written “sounded calm, measured, no signs of anxiety” well I was bloody full of anxiety and having a massive ocd flare the whole day because of it but they can’t see or hear that over the phone! On the phone I sound excellent 👍 🙄

my partner is struggling to support the house single handedly. They dont earn loads but ok bu works full time. They need financial assistance to care for me. Plus I worry for if they was gone what would I do? How would I look after myself? Answer, I wouldn’t. Like I didn’t before him.

You don't have to but what you write has to stand up to scrutiny at assessment.

You can also have your partner write an impact statement as evidence too.

If you have mental health conditions you are likely to have evidence from health professionals. Evidence of medication being prescribed. Have you had counselling? Been referred to the community mental health team? Seen a psychiatrist?

Care provided by a partner does qualify, and whilst you may not have evidence of the care being provided, the need will be consistent with the evidence and with your condition. For example, if your partner provides prompting to eat, did you have any support before you met them? There’s likely to be evidence of depression, medical professionals documenting that you struggle with self care etc. If your partner accompanies you when you go out due to severe anxiety, have you had counselling to try to address the anxiety, tried medication etc? Support is likely to be ongoing. If you’ve been diagnosed with a personality disorder, you will have seen a psychiatrist, who will have written detailed reports about your functioning.

Requesting your GP records by SAR is the best way to find supporting evidence.

Unfortunately the DWP won’t consider a statement by your partner as it’s not objective evidence. It’s fine to include one but they don’t carry much weight.

I hope that helps?

Eligibility is based on what the Claimant can do on the majority of days. Driving to the assessment as a one off wouldn’t necessarily reflect that. They would need to be able to carry out the task reliably, repeatedly and on the majority of days.

Eligibility is based on being able to feed oneself appropriately, so dietician input certainly can be valuable evidence. It isn’t just about physically being able to put food in your mouth.

The op may not be able to motivate herself, remember, etc to follow her required diet without support. She may not have the executive function to remember to eat regularly etc.

Someone with an eating disorder, for example, will physically be able to eat but still require prompting and supervision to take nutrition.

What you describe
I dont think you will be able to claim pip
I cant see where your points would come from

Where do you think your points should be?

Continuing from above

Hospitals have portals and apps and also the NHS app which would include every single hospital letter and every single tests youve ever had as well as medications you are on

Iv got many many illnesses / on meds to literally keep me alive, but im not entitled to it

You can get your full medical history from your GP.

The application for PIP is brutal. The more evidence you provide to match the descriptors makes the difference between getting a PIP award or not. The onus is on you. TBH having autism does not make you eligible for PIP. It’s down to you to prove you are eligible for the PIP award. You need medical evidence to back up your claim.

Definitely contact your doctors and hcp for copies of documentation, and evidence of expenses incurred because of your conditions

Afew things you have stated why you think you should get it:

• Under a dietitian Does not entitle you to PIP
  -(So am i- Not entitled to Pip)

• Yearly hospital reviews and blood tests -
  Your conditions are very stable going on that info

• (Im there weekly - and have blood tests monthly - Im Not entitled to PIP )

• Prescriptions for Vitamins -

• (Im on 16 medications a day - Some that actually keep me alive , 4 autoimmune conditions
• (Im Not entitled to PIP )

*Bone Scans - Every few years
-(I have CT, MRI’s and ultrasounds every few months - Kidney failure- My ankles and legs and eyelids and hands swell
I also have a Brain tumour but not cancerous and Going deaf in one ear and have blurry eye sight because of that tumour
Also bladder procedures every 6 weeks to keep bladder pain at ease (Im Not entitled to PIP )

*You have stomach issues

• (I have ibs and Painful bladder syndrome with leakage , having in hospital treatment every 6 weeks,
• Im Not entitled to PIP )

You say you cant converse which i understand- But to be fair- You write very well
You drive and walk the dog alone
Your husband works - So you are left alone for the vast majority of the day
You feed yourself although you say you have to be reminded to eat

My point is that i cant see why any of the things you have mentioned would entitle you to PIP im not entitled to PIP because i take my own meds, can shower myself and get myself dressed and make myself food and can walk etc

A cold or a sickness or diarrhoea bug will put me in hospital and has done many times as i have to be monitored and have drips etc
(Im not entitled to PIP)

Where else do you think you should get points that havent been awarded ?

I’ve been getting DLA/PIP for almost 20 years and have never sent in even one bit of evidence!

Obviously send it in to make things easier or get it for a mandatory reconsideration if you have it but I just mention it in case someone who needs PIP is reading this thread and thinks there’s no point applying as they’ve no paperwork.

Do you have an old lifetime award from the pre-pip days? Things have changed a lot since then.

I only know of 1 person who got PIP / DLA without an appeal.

Get a copy of the points and what you get in each category.

In my appeal I said I drive a car with hand controls that cost £1500 and I would not be paying that if I could get away without them.

They wrote back that as I can drive and that needs strength in my feet and legs and that means I can walk 50m.

@GiveMeAllTheVeggies

It sounds like you should reapply for PIP.

I recently got awarded it first time. I didn’t fill in the form very well so I was surprised.

My ASd Dd is on pip. Most autistic people l know are on Pip. All the SM groups I’m on have ASD children on PIp.

Why is ASD different to another disability? It impacts communication, self care, cognition and anxiety levels.

I was awarded first time.

So was my dd

The questions are very specific. Do you need help/supervision/guidance when preparing and eating food? Having dietary supplements is irrelevant (if you can take them independently). Having endoscopies is irrelevant. Can you prepare food and eat it? If so, no points.

If you need support or prompting to prepare food and eat it, you get points.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow it isn't. The same applies to other disabilities aswell, some will qualify but some will not. It does not go on a diagnosis rather on daily care and mobility needs. Every case is different. Autism as you know, is a spectrum. Many people with autism will be able to claim PIP, if they meet the descriptors. However there are also many people with autism who would not qualify as they can easily manage self care and don't require assistance.

Lots of people get awarded first time without any problems. I probably help people with PIP form about 2/3 times a month and all the recent ones have been awarded first time, most of them for things like mental illness and COPD/ breathing issues and conditions like ME/ fibromyalgia. Most applicants had good medical evidence because we stipulate how important it is. I used to work somewhere helping with PIP forms where the manager insisted we couldn't help people unless they got the whole of their medical records printed off which just seemed excessive ( sometimes 150 pages ) I'm sure the assessor would just skim read that . A good, relevant medical letter from a hospital stating a diagnosis of COPD/ emphysema etc and stating that patient can't walk X amount of metres due to breathlessness is invaluable. Anyone who can show a letter saying they are under community Psychiatric care or has had involvement with crisis team or who is taking risks due to alcoholism seems to get awarded it first time no problem. maybe it's because we are an organisation helping, I'm not sure. As I said earlier we don't have magic words to put on the form, I've never actually had any formal training. I honestly believe, as someone who has filled out hundreds of these forms over the past 6 years, that medical evidence is the key and always tell my clients they need to get it, even if it's just a GP summary and prescription list. Something that shows someone is on strong painkillers, morphine, pregabalin, is under a pain clinic etc is invaluable.

Exactly this. Half the population have had endoscopies, half the population seem to be on anti-depressants ( well it seems that way), but most are able to function and would not qualify for PIP.

You say you cant converse which i understand- But to be fair- You write very well
You drive and walk the dog alone

Writing isn’t the same as social communication. Some people can write but are totally mute. One doesn’t imply the other.

And yes, I walk the dog round the block. I haven’t worked for 8 years because of my condition, but I must be fine because I walk the dog. Is this really how the assessors are thinking?!