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?

But purely a diagnosis of autism in itself is not a disability.

Of you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of autism you also fit the legal definition of disabled

They don’t seem overly concerned with the condition you have. You could have arthritis and have a swollen, painful finger, or you could have arthritis and be unable to walk unaided, lift a pan or kettle or get washed, go to the loo or feed yourself without help.

i don’t think having an official diagnosis of a disability is something they take much notice of.

Well its a huge spectrum and it affects everyone differently but its supposed to go on care needs not diagnosis so if you have high care needs you should be able to claim.

PIP isn’t an out of work benefit. People can work and be eligible for PIP.

No, dd just couldn't face it. It had already sent her mental health on a downward spiral.

I'm really sorry that those are your circumstances

But it's deeply ignorant and arrogant to say those who 'REALLY need it'. Nobody would go through it if they didn't need it. I'd rather some fraudulent claims got through than 1 disabled person penalised and not get it.

You clearly don't know enough of autism if you think working makes them alright. Someone can work full time and then live in a mess /poor hygiene /not feed themselves as the price for working.

Ok, taking you as an example, I would say that setting alarms for medication and appointments is perfectly reasonable as a 'normal' strategy for managing life. If you can set the alarm for your medication and respond to the alarm and take the medication, then that is reasonable.

Not getting washed unless your DH tells you to should have scored 2 points.

Socialising doesn't directly score points, but interacting with others can. If you need prompting to engage with others face to face, you would score 2 points. If you require social support to engage with others face to face, then you would score 4 points. If you cannot engage with others at all, it's 8 points. The assessor would consider the fact that you work as part of the evidence that you can engage with others.

This. I lost the ability to prepare meals due to autistic burn out. I used to cook for the family. I now don't feed myself anything but meal shakes and I depends on others to cook stuff for me to freeze to feed everyone else. Autistic burnout is nothing like NT burnout and it causes regression

You have taken my quote out of context here. I wasn't suggesting it made any difference to a PIP claim.

Well thats what I mean, yes she would go to the shops, yes she would be able to go and ordere herself a drink/food somewhere while on her own, yes she makes appointments for things or goes out (not socially I dont think, if she does its very limited). She has a good relationship with her partners family, within reason

But she is compromised socially, she presents very Aspergers, one would know on meeting her (if you work with a similar client group).

But given a choice, no she wouldnt really want to engage with others, its not her thing.

@DetOliviaBenson I'm so sorry. It's not fair the amount of hoops we have to jump through.

How do you know? All NT people are different as all ND people are different. They’re not cookie cutter people with lesser feelings.

And also, this is what they hope you'll do - they hope it will become too stressful and they hope you'll give up.

Because it's a medically recognised difference that's related to a specific feature of autism

Its not just autism though ,my oldest son was diagnosed with type 3c diabetes last year after having acute necrotizing pancreititis he's treated as type 1 and is insulin dependent and also has to take medication to digest his food as he has zero pancreas function ,I'm pretty sure he isn't eligible for PIP either as he ,s independent and can manage his diabetes independently.

But it’s subjective. You can’t say autistic burnout is worse than a major depressive episode, because it will vary from person to person.

A male relative of mine is obviously autistic. His mother arranged his job (very common in those days) and he worked there his whole working life. As he got more difficult, his workplace shunted him sideways and eventually gave him a very specific job within his department that really couldn't go wrong. They tolerated his behaviour (such as deliberately leaving his radio behind in a workshop so they couldn't contact him). People recognised that he was a very difficult man but in a 'That's Archibald for you!' kind of way.

Absolutely this, as someone who has suffered a breakdown myself and seen it in my family I find this sort of ND vs NT competition really offensive. Its all over any thread about ND.

Erm no, I can say it's autistic burnout. It's a specific thing. To be dramatic but to illustrate my point, I wouldn't say cancer of the throat is any better or worse than an aneurysm. Because they are different medical things so you wouldn't compare them

I don't think anyone here is competing. Who would want to win. Pp are just explaining it is different to someone saying 'oh I'm so burnt out'

It's also not a breakdown. It is autistic burnout. So not comparable

@x2boys yes, this is true. I know someone whose DC has diabetes. They used to get DLA as a child but were refused PIP as an adult.

Theres nothing wrong with this question

I think lots of people were in care homes/institutionalised. Sometimes that would have been to people's benefit, sometimes it was to their disadvantage.

Someone like my sister would have been pretty much how she is now, she did well at school (v intelligent), very compliant, would have found someone like minded, got a job that suited her and lived the life she lives now more or less.

If you read the posts, @ArseInTheCoOpWindow didn’t say ‘worse’, she said ‘different’. Neither has anyone said someone with a major depressive episode wouldn’t also be eligible for PIP.

it seems to vary wildly. I know someone who has claimed pip for Asperger’s despite managing to live alone, cook, clean, care for pets and go on holiday. I also know someone with schizophrenia and bipolar who was claiming pip but suddenly no longer entitled.

Because it’s illogical. I don’t understand what PIP is supposed to be used for, which means I can’t apply for it successfully. How can I demonstrate my eligibility if it’s not clear what it’s for? People are saying it’s for care costs, then saying they get it for things that don’t cost money.

But PP said they were different in a way that clearly inferred autistic burnout is worse or more debilitating.