Is it moral for me to claim disability?

[QuietGarden3]

I’m autistic and was diagnosed as an adult. I’m really struggling to accept my diagnosis because I feel like some of my symptoms might be improved and the diagnosis is so common I’m not sure it’s real anymore or if it’s just my personality, an illness or the way I was raised or a combination of all those things. I’m verbal, not aggressive, and able to reflect on my difficulties. But I’ve experienced being ostracised, targeted, threatened, and have had problems at work. It feels like I’m in trouble almost every week. I have a very small number of friends who understand me well, and I often need someone to explain or defend my behaviour for me. I also experience severe bowel issues.

I was advised that I would need a lot of professional help to address my behaviours and reduce being a target, but that support doesn’t exist on the NHS. I’m wondering whether claiming might make some of that support accessible for me.

I am aware that this benefit is often associated with children with more severe autism, such as non-verbal children in nappies, but I’m wondering whether it’s morally right for adults like me to claim.

Are you talking about claiming PIP?

Do you need help showering? Feeding yourself? Help communicating with others? Can you plan and make a journey alon These are the sorts of things that you need help with, to claim PIP.

I've found a lot of people that work dont generally meet the criteria as they are able to work, get themselves to work and take care of their own hygeine.

I'm not saying this is correct of everybody but in general ypu need a pretty high threshold of being 'cared for' to be awarded.

(I am on PIP and am autistic but that is kust one of my many medical issues)

Those reading your application are the ones to make the moral and practical determination.

What are you talking about claiming - PIP or something else? It’s not about whether it’s morally right to claim it, it’s about whether you qualify.

You'd need evidence of how your autism affects you and about what’s causing the bowel issues. You can do a self test online to get an idea of whether you’d qualify or not. You need to have difficulties with everyday basic tasks like getting dressed, lifting food to your mouth, making a very simple meal, reading basic signs like emergency exit etc to get PIP

It’s not whether or not you have a disability it’s how that disability affects your day to day functioning that enables a pip claim

I wouldn’t. I could apply but choose not to. PIP has exploded to a level they’re going to have to make some truly awful cuts and I would hate to add pressure to the system when there are very disabled people who need it

There are a number of benefits available to disabled people.

eg there’s dsa for disabled students at uni - the government encourages people to claim that because getting disabled people to uni massively increases their employment rate.

there’s also access to work which can help with workplace adjustments

more standard benefits are PIP (personal independence payment ) note this is different in Scotland.

which one were you thinking of applying for?

A diagnosis doesn't equal a claim.

It will help you at work, as they will be expected to make reasonable adjustments, have you spoke to your HR department?

There is plenty of information online about what points you would get, but you need to provide evidence for it too.

It's a bloody long and difficult process, so I recommend asking CAB, or sometimes local councils have departments that can help with the forms.

I think it's fine to claim, but be aware the bar is quite high. My (autistic) DD received it for a different condition, but when she recovered and reported to PiP, then despite being diagnosed with autism, she lost the benefit.

Benefits are awarded on a points basis related to specific tasks you need help with. If you do not have any care you are unlikely to qualify. Look at the criteria so you don’t waste your time. I do not know anyone diagnosed as an adult who qualify

I was diagnosed recently (combined ADHD and ASD), I have managed to access some help and therapy through NHS to help me with relationships so I don’t get taken advantage of. Someone suggested I apply for PIP but it’s not something I will do as I am a carer for my severely autistic daughter. I don’t feel I fit the criteria as I have managed this far, I support myself and 2 DC’s alone. I suffer hugely with anxiety but I do have strategies that help. Applying for PIP isn’t easy and it’s really stressful I would rather not go through the process.

What help was offered to you what is the name of the service because I was advised there is no free adult support in the area.
I am worried that I might not get it and it will all be a load of stress for nothing. I’m not sure what counts or what I can claim

You can claim PIP for autism if you feel it would help you. But be prepared for a shitstorm of paperwork, assessments, assessors rewording question to try and catch you out, believe me, they recieve financial bonuses for every claim they refuse and will do everything in their power to not give it to you. I applied 3 times and finallly got it on the third.The best thing is have someone to help you fill in the form (i used age uk) and have a friend or relative with you for your assessment, I had all phone assessments and had my husband with me for two of them. It works on a points system and you need have at least 8 on each section to qualify. My first assessment i wasn't awarded any points at all, my second i had 4 on each section, my third, i scored 9 on daily living and 12 on mobility. I do believe it is easier to claim for a mental problem rather than a physical condition like mine cos when I asked for face-to-face assessment they refused.

If they try so hard to stop someone from like me from claiming maybe I shouldn’t be claiming that’s kind of my question or have I got it wrong and they do this to everyone? I really don’t know if I’m actually entitled.

Do you have the source for the financial incentive for claim denial please ?

Pip is assessed in two completely separate sections.

section 1 is care. This is about whether you can do day to day activities like dressing, washing, and preparing meals.

section 2 is mobility. This is about whether you can move around independently. This section is most often given to people with physical disabilities but if you are for example unable to plan a journey due to severe learning disability then you would get points.

it’s worth looking into the process in advance and thinking about how you would answer the questions to work out if it is worth applying.

Citizens advice have a quick guide to the questions they ask here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

Take a look at this OP.

The link will show you what the questions and points are for PIP

So for example on Q1 if you make your own meals you wouldn't qualify for any points.

You can add up your points and see if you 'should' be able to get PIP

I say that because many people who think they qualify are not actually awarded that.

For example my daughter has an eating disorder. She has never made her own meal in her life. She has never used an oven. A pan. She is unable to cook herself anything.

You would think she would get 8 points and descriptor F as she needs food brought to her or she simply does not eat. She got 2 points with discriptor D.

My local councillor who is also in reciept of PIP and does a lot of campaigning for disabled people told me this. Plus the nurse who did my latest assessment didn't deny it. The assessors do not make the decision they just write the report, the DWP make the decision.

@QuietGarden3They do it to everyone, i don't know anyone who has received it on their first application. Additionally I would ask your work for OH referral, they can suggest reasonable adjustments to your work to help you.

I would like to see this too @ToadRage. I worked for DWP back in 2017/2018 and this was not the case at all!

I was awarded standard mobility and standard daily living on my first application and my daughter was awardered enhanced daily living and standard mobility on her first application.

You can apply for PIP or ESS. They won’t award you anything if you don’t qualify, and often even people who do qualify have to jump through hoops and often appeal. Having a disability doesn’t automatically mean that you will qualify, I have autism and ADHD but I know I wouldn’t qualify for any help at the moment as they don’t effect my ability to function day to day enough. You can find the criteria online and see whether you are likely to qualify.

I’ve just had a look at those questions and they are all so vague! Is this a list just for physical conditions or is there one for mental conditions like autism?

I do have reasonable adjustments in place it’s more of the social aspect that’s getting me into so much trouble

I got enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility on my first PIP application. My award was based on the evidence I submitted and I didn't have a face to face assessment. When my award ended, I applied again and got enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility and no face to face assessment. This is for physical health conditions.

Op you don't need to ask permission on here. If you want to apply for PIP then do so. But apply knowing that your first attempt won't succeed. You'll receive a reply saying things like "She went to a mainstream school", "She can walk her dog" etc. Anything positive you say will be used against you.

So you have to go into it with a thick skin. You apply for a mandatory reconsideration, which is very straightforward. That will likely fail. Then you do the tribunal which apparently is just another 30 mins on the phone with independent assessors (the first assessor is not independent). The majority of people win.

I don't think it is vague.
They are the standard questions, they are the same for any condition, ADHD, missing limbs, blindness, autism.

There isnt a mental health assessment vs a physical one. Its all the same questions.

Again, PIP isnt about what diagnosis you have, but how it affects you in these specific circumstances. Thats the criteria.