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?

When I shop my mum goes with me. I shop at 8am when it’s quiet. I wear dark glasses. Instead of doing a 1hr big shop I will shop 4x for 15 mins. I really don’t want to but my DH gets abusive if I don’t. Before I met him I often didn’t eat for days because I had no food and didn’t want to go shopping. I also have to cook, no matter how much I struggle. I often burn it or forget to cook. DH calls when he leaves work to prompt me to cook. If DH is away I revert to sandwiches and microwave meals, I only cook to avoid him being abusive.

DH will prompt me to get dressed and washed. Usually because I have to get DC ready and take him to school. If I don’t get up and get dressed DH will start screaming at me and throwing things. When I lived with my mum I only got washed once a week.

I use alarms and calendars to manage meds and appointments. DH will often text me repeatedly if I have an appointment, because he knows I’m useless at remembering.

I don’t use the support of advocates to attend meetings. I don’t have any advocates. DH is always at work and I don’t have any friends. My mum has a learning disability so isn’t much use in that respect. I have taken her to the doctor with me before and the doctor/nurse has written on my record that it was a “strange consult” and it was weird that I had my mum with me. So now I feel uncomfortable about taking her.

I did explain this on the form (apart from DH’s behaviour, I didn’t dare mention that) but I don’t see how I can prove any of it.

I did explain in detail. To the point that the form wouldn’t let me write any more words in the box. I also included my autism diagnosis report which discusses my difficulties in detail. I still got told I have no cognitive impairment because I presented ok in the assessment and I drive a car.

Call them now and request a mandatory reconsideration. Then seek specialist advice from the CAB or similar organisation to support you through if it needs to go to tribunal (it probably won't)

So this is all exactly the kind of info you need. But you'll have much more success if that info is all in reports from health professionals.

So if they are saying you burn things when cooking and explaining why that is. Or that you need prompting to get dressed and why that is.

Have you had any assessments looking at these areas? If so you could ask for a copy of the report.

You should also seek help for the domestic abuse you are being subjected to.

Can you contact the DVLA & ask for a copy of your medical assessment as that's quite thorough & they definitely would have contacted your GP etc for reports.

That would be considered good evidence for PIP.

The GP surgery should be able to print out a summary of the OPs condition/s. That is what my GP did, when I had an appointment.

The Op is unlikely to have had a DVLA medical assessment.
Autism isn't a condition that requires DVLA assessment unless it affects the ability to drive safely. But if you have Mild Cognitive Impairment or Subjective Cognitive Impairment (or beyond) then you must inform the DVLA.

What is being described regarding driving is far from ideal, but as long as Op is prepared to return home or abandon her car if she can't get the assistance she needs when things don't go to plan, then her ability to drive safely isn't affected, however from the DWP's pov, being able to safely drive, does imply quite a few standard cognitive abilities.

Op, my understanding is you automatically pass three of the five common cognitive impairment tests by being able to drive and doing so. There's an argument you must do well enough on a fourth, or you shouldn't be driving. I think that is why they are saying no cognitive impairment, which doesn't mean your autism doesn't affect you in all sorts of ways.

As others have said you need help to fill out the forms describing at what level your condition affects you, and provide sufficient evidence to back it up.

The problem is there has to be some cut of point drawn and wherever it is drawn there are always going to be a huge number of people whose lives are genuinely affected by conditions but are under where the line is drawn at any given time.

Meltdowns & panic attacks whilst driving would need to be reported to DVLA. It wouldn't necessarily mean the licence would be removed but it would need to be assessed.

It's something I'm always asked at PIP assessments.

This isn’t true, as long as the person is able to drive safely.

Unfortunately not. Mental health conditions causing anxiety or behavioral disturbance or problems with concentration or memory MUST be reported to the DVLA. Panic attacks & meltdowns whilst driving would definitely need to be reported. It wouldn't be necessarily mean the licence would be refused, in fact many people with mental health conditions do drive but it would definitely be assessed by the DVLA.

The most likely outcome is they would be able to continue driving as normal but could also be reassessed after 1 or 3 years.

I’m sorry, but you are wrong.

Those things must be reported IF the condition impacts a person’s ability to drive safely.

Meltdowns & panic attacks whilst driving would need to be reported to DVLA (my underlining)
Correct.

Those things must be reported IF the condition impacts a person’s ability to drive safely
Also correct.

If what the Op has posted is read carefully, they are not having meltdowns and panic attacks whilst driving. If they arrive and are unable to park, they state they have meltdowns sitting there. ie stationary, when pulled up, not when driving.

I appreciate I am hair splitting, but I assume it would be their reasonable defense that this does not happen whilst they are driving, should they ever be before a court regarding if they should have been declaring medical issues to the DVLA.

If having a meltdown, a bloody good sob, or a raging argument on the phone or in person whilst pulled up, made one automatically unsafe to drive, a very large percentage of drivers would be in trouble.

I have been refused pip twice, I am severely sight impaired, during my telephone assessment they asked can I plan a journey I said no, can I make any budgeting decisions I said know, I said mum manages appointments, I said I have difficulty seeing labels coz I need glasses and they said we believe you can do all this

Did you explain why you can't plan a journey? Your eyesight wouldn't stop you planning a journey on it's own, so you would need to explain what stops you from planning a journey. Similarly, your eyesight wouldn't stop you making budgeting decisions, so why can't you budget? (You don't have to tell me, I'm just saying that it doesn't follow on logically from poor eyesight). Reading labels isn't going to get you points for PIP, unfortunately. They would suggest that you take a magnifying glass - in fact some shops have them on the shelves for customers who find it hard to read labels.

No I didn’t explain why I can’t plan a journey I just can’t
I just can’t make any budgeting decisions I’m no good with money
Why should I have to take a magnifier glass with me into the shower
Surly that’s beside the point
Well yes eye side would stop me as I find hard to see unless I have big txt

so are you saying that I have to tell them exactly to the point as to why I can’t do all the things

This thread is almost two years old - ie made 2 years ago!!!

@Hazza1990 yes you have to explain how your condition prevents you from doing these things, "I just can't" isn't an acceptable answer, you can't just say no and expect them to take your word. You can tell them what you like, but it has to be backed with evidence. What evidence did you provide them with? If you truly believe you meet the criteria then I'd advise reaching out to an organization for support with your application/appeal. As Pp has suggested this is an old thread so your responses will be limited, maybe start your own or look at the DWP help pages on Reddit, they are run by people who work for the DWP and can be very helpful