ADHD/Autism diagnosis in adults

[Anxiousheartbeat]

are adults who get diagnosed with ADHD or autism eligible for benefits?

the diagnosis won't make any difference. If they are disabled, then they are assessed as such, if not, then not.

I have adhd and autism ( diagnosed at 54)and wouldn’t qualify even though both have impacted my life, income and career hugely. I have 3 adult children who are diagnosed with both and have been impacted hugely but only one qualifies for benefits.

I qualified for a one-off Access to Work grant for ADHD coaching after I was diagnosed, but it expired because I found the process of booking coaching complicated (and, well, because that’s ADHD).

Benefits aren't decided due to any diagnosis. Unless you are unfit to work or have extra needs that could qualify for pip

If they weren't eligible for benefits pre diagnosis, then no.
Benefits are not given out for conditions people have, they are given if someone severely struggles with aspects of daily life.

no, no diagnosis comes with added social security benefits. it's always down to how a diagnosis affects you. I have a (low functioning) child on Pip but thinking about the application form and questions asked, I would imagine most (esp those who are high functioning) don't qualify.

I have autism. You don’t get benefits.

If you drive a car or go out by yourself on the bus they will say that proves you’re capable of moving physically, going on journeys by yourself, your cognitive skills are fine. If you’re not anorexic they’ll say you’re obviously capable of buying and preparing food and feeding yourself. I got told I was too fat to be having difficulties with grocery shopping. If you have any qualifications they’ll say that proves your brain works fine.

Essentially you have to be failing to cope and failing to look after yourself in order to get benefits. Being unable to work because of autism doesn’t count. You have to be physically or cognitively incapacitated.

It depends on how the condition affects you. You may be eligible for PIP, but not necessarily. It is worth looking at advice from the National Autistic Society, Mind etc.

Benefits are based on how youre affected, not your specific diagnosis. Some people with adhd/autism may be eligible, some others may not.

I have just been approved for PIP on the basis of partly physical condition, but also partly on diagnosed mental health conditions for some of the descriptors.

I'm currently awaiting assessment for autism, as my GP wonders (and since she brought it up, im wondering too) whether my mental health conditions are exacerbated/caused by having undiagnosed autism. I've done some research and do think it would explain a whole lot really, but I'll have to see.

If I am infact autistic and diagnosed, it wouldn't entitle me to anything extra as far as i understand. The PIP benefit is based on how you're affected by health conditions long term, how they impact your living, which has been assessed already. The diagnosis might just help explain "why" I am affected the way I am in terms of mental health.

The WCA for UC/ESA works the same way as far as I know, but I'm working still so havnt done that one.

Depends on the autism.

If you are affected on a daily basis to the point it causes difficulty with function then ESA/UC/PiP are applied in the same way they are to anyone with a disability.

There are no automatic benefits lol, that would be nice.

This is in the latest email from Benefits and Work explaining the situation.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-health-conditions/claim-pip-for-autism?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Benefits%20and%20Work&utm_content=3%20July%202024%20Newsletter

I have autism. You don’t get benefits.

If you drive a car or go out by yourself on the bus they will say that proves you’re capable of moving physically, going on journeys by yourself, your cognitive skills are fine. If you’re not anorexic they’ll say you’re obviously capable of buying and preparing food and feeding yourself. I got told I was too fat to be having difficulties with grocery shopping. If you have any qualifications they’ll say that proves your brain works fine.

Essentially you have to be failing to cope and failing to look after yourself in order to get benefits. Being unable to work because of autism doesn’t count. You have to be physically or cognitively incapacitated.

None of this is true. I drive a car and qualify for high rate mobility. I have a motability car. I don't qualify for a BB though. I also get enhanced rate care, as I need a lot of support and struggle with many aspects of my day to day life. Food is a huge one, I am obese because I cannot prepare food and eat takeaways and junk. I wear the same clothes (clean of course) on repeat and I do not dress for various weather conditions. I need support when engaging with people, I need support to go to new places...I could go on.

If you look at the criteria for PIP/ADP you will see how these things are scored and work out where you can evidence that it 'fits' you.

Lots of autistic adults get PIP/ADP, don't listen to the scaremongering, angry voices. Just take your time and work through each criteria.

I know a chap who was newly diagnosed with autism, so contacted DWP and asked to be reassessed as he deemed that his disability had changed. It hadn't... he just had a new diagnosis but he was still them same. He ended up having his current PIP reduced, and had a huge fight getting it back.

Like others have said, it is about how your disability affects you day to day, and not the diagnosis itself.
My DP has ASD, but has muddled on through life without PIP so far. A few people have tried to get him to apply, but I don't think he would get it. He doesn't have a paper trail of evidence about it other than his diagnostic report.

But anyway, you may get benefits, or you may not. A diagnosis does not mean you are eligible, but if you think you could go through the gruelling process of applying then seeing CAB about it would be a good start.

It absolutely is true. Because it’s word for word what the DWP said to me when I applied for PIP.

They said because I drive a manual car that proves I can move my arms and legs and my cognitive skills are fine, and that’s reinforced by the fact I have a qualification. They said are you saying your cognitive skills are NOT fine? Because in that case we’d have to report you to the DVLA as someone who shouldn’t be driving.

It’s not angry scaremongering at all. It’s exactly what the DWP said to me, and if you look online it’s what they say to many people. They frequently tell people if they drive or have a qualification they aren’t eligible for PIP.

My ds has autism I expect he will get high rates of mobility and living for pip as he has had high rates of dla since he was three and is now a teenager and we're looking tobtransition to adult services. He can't be on his own unless he's asleep, he requires two people with him when he's out, he needs help/support with all aspects of life. He has severe autism.

I have a friend who was diagnosed after her children were diagnosed. She has a husband, children, career, friends, mortgage on a detached house and is able to advocate for her children at tribunal etc. She receives high rate pip for both. Her children recieve high rates for dla, they are in mainstream school and will go on to live productive 'normal' lives too.

I think it comes down to evidence (having the reports to back up what you say) and knowing what they're looking for to meet the criteria.

That’s what I mean, adults with severe autism do get benefits. But adults whose autism is so mild that they weren’t even diagnosed until they were grown up, are unlikely to be eligible.

Why do you ask OP?

I'm get £35 odd a week PIP. I definitely should have got more but I've appealed twice so it's better than I was given originally.

But adults whose autism is so mild that they weren’t even diagnosed until they were grown up, are unlikely to be eligible.

That's rude. People weren't diagnosed as often in the 90s / 00s. It was assumed they were just quiet / shy / quirky/ odd.

I was diagnosed at 35. I get PIP.

That's not really how autism works. I am almost 50 and wasn't diagnosed until a few years ago. My autism wasn't 'mild' when I was going through school, my teachers were oblivious because back in the 80s/early 90s autism was still mainly seen as a non verbal disorder. Those of us who spoke, who quietly blended into the background as much as possible, those you would consider to have 'mild' autism have often been left with trauma as a result. I didn't speak unless I was spoken to, they just said I was 'quiet' - I was actually terrified to talk and always needed the cue. I was a 'school refuser' but back then I was punished for it. Imagine being so riddled with anxiety because everything about your day was terrifying, unable to tell anyone and then punished for trying to keep yourself 'safe'

Yeah, that pesky mild autism

No, diagnosis alone does not mean an individual is entitled to any disability related benefits. If the neurodivergence impacts on your life in some way that prevents you from being able to work, live independently to some degree, perform certain tasks, then any benefit would be awarded on the basis of such impact, not on the basis of the diagnosis itself.

@sevsal I have “mild” autism myself and I’m saying exactly what the DWP said to me. If you’ve got this far in life and been able to cope then you’re not severely affected and thus don’t need benefits.

@Miriad

I have “mild” autism myself and I’m saying exactly what the DWP said to me. If you’ve got this far in life and been able to cope then you’re not severely affected and thus don’t need benefits.

You should take that further then because the DWP are not allowed to make such bullshit blanket statements. They work through their criteria and make a decision based on each of them. They absolutely can not tell you 'you have got this far and don't need benefits' - I'm sorry this happened to you, but don't take the personal opinion of one rogue DWP worker as the official stance.

@Miriad

I mean I kind of agree. I know people with autism who get high pip.

Yet they drive and have tough careers they have studied for.

If they can do the above this means they can probably go out, cook, socialise, wash, deal with finances.

Yes you may not be able to do them often or every day but i get £28 a week and don't leave the house.

They must be good liars then, I wonder how they fake the evidence for the PIP claims?