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?

@GiveMeAllTheVeggies You are doing quite a bit of comparing in your post. Just because you have been denied PIP, that does not mean that someone in a similar position to yourself would not be successful, if they were to claim. It is not what the condition is, but how it affects a person.

This. It’s best to supply copies of all and any tests, consultants letters etc.

The expectation is that the claimant supplies them. GPs letters, even if they do them, don’t tend to be as comprehensive.

Citizens advice bureau are very good at helping with the mandatory reconsideration and the filling out of application. They really helped me. Good luck x

I am autistic and get PIP and have got PIP or DLA before that for over 20 years. I get the enhanced rate for both daily living and mobility. I've had to appeal once years ago but generally get awarded on reviews without appeal these days. I always submit tons of medical evidence and add extra sheets for answers do I go into lots of detail, and I keep every medical letter I receive (and always get an updated patient summary before submitting a claim). I do have ongoing MH issues related to my autism and have a lot of intervention with community MH services and social services because of that. I'm unable to drive due to attention and coordination issues so driving ability has never affected my claim. I haven't worked for 25 years due to my health issues although it's possible to get PIP and work.

For my last review they called my MH clinic so they do contact medical professionals sometimes.

I've used the Benefits and Work website mentioned above to help me fill in forms for years, definitely recommend it.

PIP isn't about working.
PIP is about how you meet the descriptors.
So you may not meet the mobility descriptors because you can go out alone and walk more than 200m by the sounds of it.
You have to score points for an award, I'm sure you know this.
So look at the descriptors and decide where you would score points - at a guess I'd probably say the most likely ones would be the communication descriptor and the mixing with others and anything else you struggle with. Then get medical evidence to support what descriptors you feel you might score on. Get some help form CAB or Age UK ( if you are over 50 ). Either could help. Or the national Autism society have specialist benefits advisors who would be good to go to for help.

She may do a dog walk but is she then unable to move when she gets home or does she need someone to help plan the route. All counts towards mobility points but again she needs to evidence this.

I didn’t apply for mobility. I’m physically fit for my age. I applied because I’m autistic and I struggle, and I’d like to pay for support and counselling that the NHS won’t provide. It would also be helpful to be able to park in a blue badge space when necessary (difficulty with parking limits where I can go).

I do walk the dog. On the exact same 30 minute route every single day for the past decade. I don’t need help to plan a route I’ve taken every day for a decade. I wouldn’t go on a different route, I’m too scared. But regardless, I don’t see how I can evidence that because there’s no proof?

You write exactly what you've written here. That you don't deviate from this route because it causes distress and strict adherence to routine alleviates this distress. You need to dig deep and write exactly how your condition disables you and get those documents from your doctor.

There are no documents about me walking the dog though. Most of my difficulties are not documented. Except in my autism assessment, which I provided.

I just find it bizarre that these well-known snoopers don’t ask your doctor to verify that you’re telling the truth. They’ve been known to stalk people and photograph them, but they don’t bother to check up on your medical claims?

I've just applied for PIP for my dd.
She is 16 and autistic.
But she is also clever and at a grammar school.

I had help with the form, from someone who regularly helps with these forms.

As we went through the form, she encouraged me to think of all the ways in which I support dd and list them. I was quite shocked to realise how much I support her, and how much she would struggle if left to herself (reminding her to eat, wash, clean clothes for example)

We wrote it all down, but there is literally not a shred of evidence for any of it. I just help her. It means I can only work part time, in order to have the time to help her.
Reading this thread is pretty depressing, because we can't prove the level of support she needs. It is 90% social and emotional, but effects every area of her life.

The snooping and stalking is for people who have insurance claims and other benefit claims going through. So a person has sustained an industrial injury and claims they are so disabled they need carers 24/7 is then photographed up Scafell Pike or has a social media image found of them up Snowdon. PIP claims are generally more robust than that but are granted on a combination of medical evidence/paperwork and your/support network written testimony.

I helped my adult dc with their application. They need support or supervision in all the categories eg making a journey, preparing food, washing, dressing, communicating so their scores were quite high. We gave lots of examples of where they struggled with basic tasks or couldn’t do them alone.

It sounds like you can do a lot of tasks independently eg cook, wash, budget, making a journey.

My dc needs someone to run the bath, set out the toiletries and check they have washed and help them with their hair. They can’t make a journey even on foot alone. They need supervision while cooking as they can do unsafe things and we gave examples.

I’m not an expert on the system at all but just giving you an example of a successful application.

They had an assessment over the phone and they were asked about every single section and to explain further about what they had put.

You could have submitted a diary documenting your support.

That should be sufficient. It shows she has care needs and who is providing them.

I wrote all of this down, but the letter from the assessor says they don’t believe me. Basically because I have qualifications and drive a car, that means all of my other claims are lies. I can’t possibly be clever and drive but still struggle with other things. Driving is soooo hard, if you can do that you can do anything.

I have kept every letter my daughter has ever been sent after her cancer diagnosis and subsequent late effects conditions. It came in so useful when moving from DLA to PIP and filling the form in. I sent my own evidence as well as giving a long list of people who supported her. We were awarded PIP with no health assessment.
it is an extremely frustrating process but unfortunately it is on you to prove why and anything documents you can provide to support what you’re saying really make a difference.

a diary is a good idea. I think we sort of said that, because in the form we said - every day or every week for things.

One problem is that a good week and a bad week look very different. She can have 6 bad weeks on the run, or 6 good weeks.

GCSEs right now, so we are constantly in bad weeks

You definitely need help with filling in the form, as you aren't fully understanding the process.

You say you didn't apply for mobility, but a blue badge would be helpful. Applying for PIP means you'd be assessed for both daily living needs and mobility needs. It's the mobility needs that entitle you to the blue badge (if you score enough) Some councils will give you a blue badge without PIP, but you still need evidence.

Evidence of your diagnosis / conditions is a starting point. People rarely have actual evidence of how it affects them. They may use aids, have therapy or assistance from a relative / carer, but your own description of how your condition affects you is important.

Look again at the descriptor for Planning and following a journey (under the mobility section) If I'm understanding correctly, you walk the dog on a familiar route daily. You cannot, however undertake an unfamiliar journey. If you simply can't do this, or need someone to go with you, then you would score 10 points. A letter from the person who would usually help you with this is classed as evidence. (My Dad wrote a letter for me in my case*)

Ultimately, you have to take responsibility for your evidence. You said 'who keeps bits of paper?' and that you throw everything in the recycling when it comes to letters. This in itself does rather prove that perhaps you need assistance and support with paperwork / household bills etc.

Please get some help from someone who is able to revisit the process with you, and who understands the process.

I'm Autistic, but also physically disabled. I get PIP, and had an awful experienced initially. I've recently just berh given a 10 year award, and I also had a telephone assessment because I told them I wasn't able to attend in person due to Autistic shutdown. They are quite understanding if you call to discuss this. They won't force* you to attend in person. My GP also put me forward to actually have a DWP officer complete the form with me at home. This was a great option for me. I thought it would be stressful, but she was lovely and helpful, and above all knew the process inside out.

Sorry about the bold bits

Do you not have her diagnosis report?

Any adjustments made my school would count. Any GP visits?

Mine had such paralysing anxiety during her GCSE’s. We had loads of gp letters for the exam boards.

we sent in her diagnostic report.
Didn;t send in her school adjustments. I am kicking myself for that now.
I think because the form is aimed at adults, and there is no mention of school.

We mentioned a lot of them in the form though

If her claim is still being assessed (they're taking approx 6 months at the moment) you can submit further evidence

Gather it all for appeal.

We sent in15 pages of emails. I think we browbeat them into submission!

Also we claimed for Dd. She won’t speak to anyone at the moment, so DH is he signatory.

So under mobility you need to say I cannot change the route I use for the dog because it causes anxiety.
I need support when going to a new place, or when planning a new route because it causes me distress and anxiety.

Think about why you need a blue badge.
The reasons for needing a blue badge should be on there under the mobility section.
Or under the planning a journey section, or preferably under both.

Thanks, we will do.
Yes, I had to fill it in for dd.
She signed it though, bt we said in several places that she had got me to fill it in as it is too difficult.