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?

Surely 'worst' and 'average' are not the same. a lot of people give the advice to fill in form/answer questions based on the worst days but really this is not supposed to be how it works.

I understand the semantic meanings of these words perfectly, thank you. The point is that her average days are a complete and utter sh*tfest - ie they ARE her worst days. And he could see that so advised us to reference those, not her ‘better’ days.

It seems unfair that two people with the same diagnosis and the same symptoms who interpret a form differently get a different outcome.

That does not mean that they would be affected exactly the same way though. But yes, the language used to fill out the forms, and whose desk they land upon, can make a big difference in who gets awarded, awarded the correct standard, or dismissed completely.

This makes zero sense.
Dragging yourself along the floor is dangerous and damaging- setting an alarm is not.
If you had broken legs and equipment to help you move around freely without any support at all then you would be functional
Sadly this is not the case for the majority of people with mobility issues

I have autism and I doubt I’d get it. Even though work literally makes me want to disappear and I dread every single day of my life :(

If you don't apply for it, then you most definitely won't get it. It is not what the condition is, but how it affects you.

It’s highly unusual to find two people with the same diagnosis and exact same symptoms though. Although it depends on your support network. Those who are isolated and have absolutely no family or friends to help are in a different position to those who are fortunate enough to have family who will do anything for you. I have a physical condition but I am extremely lucky to have people around me to help with practical tasks. So, even though my condition and my symptoms may be more severe than someone else, my quality is life is helped by the fact I have people who can help me.

You are functioning with an aid (the alarms).

Most people with mobility needs are not dragging themselves around the floor because they function with mobility aids, which avoids a dangerous situation.

The alarms also avoid a dangerous situation, whether that is double dosing medication or missing doses, leaving the gas on, burning the house down, missing vital medical appointments.

None of these aids are a magic solution, but they allow people to function. This isn’t disability too trumps and nor should it be.

Alarms don’t usually allow people to eliminate any restriction at all. People still need to remember to set the alarm, act on it before they forget, not have so many alarms that they just tune them out, etc etc.

The alarms are metaphorical crutches.

That's actually fraudulent. It is based on how you are the majority of the days. Not the worst days

It's how you are half the time

You can state on a bad day this happens and how often

My job is pip appeals and this is wrong. It’s old advice based on how DLA worked.

Not worst case scenario for pip, but how you are the majority of the time. It’s fine to reference your worst days but if you’re not affected more than 50% of the time, you won’t score points.

So if you have a couple of days a month where you can’t get out of bed, you can’t claim that is your norm. If on the majority of days it takes you longer, you’re in pain, depressed, you have to pace your activity, that is your norm and what you will be assessed on.

You will also need medical evidence to support the level of functioning you’re claiming, and the assessment will look at your life as a whole. So if you claim in the form that you can’t get out of bed, but you’ve been to your hospital appointments and you’re sitting in an armchair making a video call for your assessment, that won’t help your claim.

That is what national autistic society say to do

Can you link? As it’s not on their pip filling in form advice

@mummyhereandthere

No it is not and you should ask for your false information to be deleted

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/benefits-and-money/benefits/types-of-benefit/pip-form-filling-tips

No, that is wrong and right, they want your norm yes, but if you're worse day is that you are immobile then that has to be there. If you have epilepsy then your norm is not fitting.

What you said was not true. I have reported it and suggest you do the same.

Given:
a) that any diagnosis of any disability is not given unless the person is actually dis-abled in life
b) the stress applications and assessments cause to applicants and
c) the money it must cost to carry out and process the claims

I am wondering if it would not be easier, cheaper and more humane if a diagnosis came with a monetary award automatically?

Sure, that means some people would get money they don't need but so what? I'd rather money was wasted by giving some disabled people a 'bonus/perk' than have that same money wasted in bureaucracy and admin.

And I'd rather that some people have money they don't need than that some people don't have money they do need.

@miniaturepixieonacid

a) that any diagnosis of any disability is not given unless the person is actually dis-abled in life

Disabilities are not diagnosed, conditions are. Which of course can be variable.

How would that work? People's needs vary hugely.

And those of us who can't get a diagnosis? Our needs are just as valid.

TigerRag - Yes, I know needs vary, of course. But, as a generalisation, a disability should, by definition, cause difficulty and inconvenience. Which can often be alleviated, if only slightly, by money. So I'm wondering whether it would actually be any more expensive to just award it automatically to all disabled people and save the application process which is both expensive and difficult. I suppose the idea is a bit like that universal income idea which was deemed impractical. So most likely this is too, I'm just musing. I'm not sure about not being able to get a diagnosis though. Surely if someone is disabled enough to be struggling with everyday function then there is something diagnosable causing the difficulty?

Disabilities are not diagnosed, conditions are. Which of course can be variable
Isn't that just semantics? Disabilities are caused by conditions.

"I'm not sure about not being able to get a diagnosis though. Surely if someone is disabled enough to be struggling with everyday function then there is something diagnosable causing the difficulty?"

Tests don't show everything. I'm 35 and still waiting for a diagnosis of something I was born with. I may never get an answer. All my tests are either clear or inconclusive.

@miniaturepixieonacid

Disabilities are not diagnosed, conditions are. Which of course can be variable

Isn't that just semantics? Disabilities are caused by conditions.

No, it's not semantics at all. Not all people will be affected by a condition in the same way. I may have fibromyalgia but be less affected than the next person who could be absolutely disabled by it.

insert any condition/illness/disease