To think most autistic people can’t claim PIP?

[Bluefell]

Specifically adults with high functioning autism, level 1 autism, Asperger’s, whatever you want to call it. Maybe you have qualifications, maybe you are married or have kids, maybe you even have a job or drive a car. Do you get PIP?

I have autism and I’m being told I’m not eligible for PIP because I’m “too functional” and I “don’t have any care needs”. I manage on my own (with the help of various adjustments and the support of my DH) but I’ve never worked full time because I find it too overwhelming.

I’m being told that other autistic people receive PIP to enable them to work part-time because they find that work burns them out. So why don’t I receive PIP for the same reason? I’m also being told that people get PIP to pay for counselling to help them cope with autism, or to pay for food deliveries (because the supermarket overwhelms them), or to pay for therapy which helps them to integrate socially and mask better. I would equally benefit from those things but I can’t get PIP.

AIBU to think that most high functioning autistic people like me aren’t able to get PIP? Or is everyone else except me getting it?

It’s one of the most common reasons for claiming PIP. I began the process of this but found it far to daunting and I stopped.

I’m autistic and I don’t get it, nor do I feel I should get it as I have no care needs.

It sounds like you’d be entitled to it. Who said you’re not?

My ds is autistic and has never claimed it.

DWP and the PIP assessor who conducted my assessment.

There was a thread about this recently. I was very surprised that a person with autism who is able to hold down a full time job would be badly affected enough to qualify for PIP but that seemed to be the case.

Have you asked for a mandatory reconsideration?

I used to get DLA for my dd until she turned 16. We applied for PIP straight away. At the interview, the interviewer (who didn't look much older than dd) said "Well she looks fine to me". And that was that she was refused. 🙄

She couldn't face going through the process again. I think she should get it (at 20, she's still in college and can't hold down a part-time job. She's not entitled to any benefits because of her age). They make it as hard as possible.

This was my thought, but apparently other people with no care needs are receiving it to enable them to work reduced hours because work burns them out, and that supposedly is a valid reason to be awarded PIP. Yet I haven’t been awarded it, even though my situation is exactly the same.

My Dd gets it. Full rate. Shes high functioning, but currently in burnout.

Buses make her anxious, she is mute at times. The assessor moved her up when she spoke to us.

Maybe you didn’t present your case strongly enough. Youclraky need help of your Dh supports you. Supermarkets would come under socialising l think.

It’s still a no.

Sounds like every case is considered on an individual basis which is exactly right. Around 1 in 15 of current reception year kids are autistic, that would be one phenomenal welfare bill in future years if they’re automatically entitled to PIP. There are thousands of other conditions which aren’t automatically given PIP and I don’t see why autism should be any different.

People do not get pip bears they have a diagnosed condition. They get pip as they have additional care needs and you need to be able to demonstrate this with medical proof.

My son gets pip for ASD. Full rate of both and an unlimited award. He gets that because he needs support and promoting to get up, shower, brush his teeth, cook breakfast, eat, go to the loo. He struggles to socialise and can't follow a map or visualise a map and know when to turn left etc. he can only just follow a regular journey alone.

But he was an excellent student at high school desire never managing to complete a single piece of homework as his executive function is non existent. He's an excitement driver as he's great at rule following. But he struggles with routine and gets very depressed and is a night to get him out of bed and wasted and showered etc.

I can’t work many hours either but I’m lucky in that DH supports us both. Maybe if I didn’t have DH I’d rethink it

You need to ask for mandatory reconsideration, setting out why you meet the criteria under each of the task descriptors, and with supporting evidence.

Definitely don’t take the assessor’s report as the final word, they are often not applying the law and the DWP guidelines.

Pipps Professionals is a not for profit Community Interest Company who will offer some free advice via their Facebook page, and some optional paid services to help you navigate the appeals process.

Many autistic people do receive PIP, including me.

This was my thought, but apparently other people with no care needs are receiving it to enable them to work reduced hours because work burns them out, and that supposedly is a valid reason to be awarded PIP. Yet I haven’t been awarded it, even though my situation is exactly the same

That's not how it works. You don't get PIP based on such reasons.
You get PIP based on if you score enough points on the daily living and/ or mobility criteria.

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

My son is asd & he was awarded PIP a few weeks ago. We used the site above to help him fill out the form. It's frustrating as asd is a disability yet you have to prove you are disabled.

I have ADHD and Autism and I very much doubt I would get PIP but I also find it very hard to work full time sometimes and to do a number of things. I know many with invisible conditions who have been denied PIP. I feel more on this situation should get PIP though.

You need to present an appeal @Bluefell

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/resources/appeals-and-mandatory-reconsiderations

Can you cook a meal repeatedly or aas often as needed?

Can you socialize easily?

Nobody is receiving it with no care needs.

But you likely do have care needs that you haven’t realised qualify. If your work causes burnout, are you then able to go home and cook a meal from fresh ingredients? If you can’t do this on the majority of days, you have a need there. Are you using timers to remember to take medication? That is an aid. Is someone encouraging you to get up and dressed? Or are you not getting dressed because you don’t have support? Etc etc. It’s not a case of needing full help, or nothing.

I work in this area and most people don’t realise they have a need.

Nobody gets pip for burnout. That's ridiculous and there isn't even a related question on the forms about such things so there is literally no criteria for it.

What you can get pip for is the actual care needs that are listed on the forms when they ask you if you need help. That is ALL they care about.

Do you need help to prepare or take nutrition? To toilet or shower? To make a journey? To socialise?

Pip is not there to make up a short fall of wages, it's there to cover the costs of care needs and you don't seem to have any?

I equally can’t cope with buses, I have panic attacks. I eventually managed to get a car so I’m no longer stuck at home. Being able to drive has been used against me as a reason why I’m not eligible for PIP. I’ve also had periods of burnout on 3-4 occasions where I’ve stayed in my bedroom for up to a year and refused to go out. Still not eligible for PIP.

I dont think people will be getting it because full time work burns them out. Have people said this? I imagine they will be qualifying on care/mobility needs, and how their needs are different to someone without barriers.

There are posters on this forum saying that’s exactly why they receive PIP. And people who work in PIP assessment posting on this forum saying that’s a valid reason to receive PIP.