Going to tribunal

[catphone]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to post.
A doctor deemed me severely mentally impaired due to my autism. I don’t pay council tax because of it.
I have always had anxiety, inflammation, joint pain, migraines and bowel problems. As a child I was excluded, abused and severely bullied by adults and children.
I have never been able to leave the house alone. Since leaving home to live independently I developed agoraphobia because I can’t use public transport and relied on other people to take me to places I could cope with. I can’t go into cafes or shops etc due to over whelm. The agoraphobia became severe due to avoiding going out.
I can’t leave the house alone and only feel comfortable if I have a safe person that I trust, but I only got 10 points for being unable to leave the house at all due to significant distress. Whilst that is technically true the root cause is my autism so I feel I should be getting higher rate mobility.
At this point the next stage is tribunal but I want to be sure that it’s something I’m entitled to

I think you're talking about a PIP application? Was it completely refused?

Are the causes of your physical challenges ( stomach and pain) diagnosed? I believe you but asking as relevant to what you write in an application.

It’s really been stressing me out.
I wasn’t completely refused, but I don’t think I got the rate I should. In results from the mandatory reconsideration they determined my rate was staying the same.

I haven’t been diagnosed with anything in particular besides IBS which I feel is really a blanket term and doesn’t fully explain all of my symptoms. bowel problems are common with autism. I think the inflammation and pain is brought on by stress as I noticed a pattern and I’ll get eczema flare ups too.
I think they say themselves I either have to have a physical problem with moving around which I can do due to joint and bowel issues or I have to have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning to quality for higher rate mobility

which I also have as determined by a doctor. I can suffer with self harming due to over whelm. the application has already been filed out but I’m waiting on a date for tribunal and feel really stressed about it, they keep focusing on the fact that I have agoraphobia and that’s why they’ve given me 10 points but it because of a really complex combination of my autism and the health issues it’s caused that I can’t leave my house.
that was a lot but I hope that makes sense

I know from my own experience that they don't tend to care what the condition is but they score you based on what you can or can't do.

I feel that the PIP assessment process is just wrong and the way they assess is awful. Based on everything you describe, life sounds challenging and I'd wish for you to have the maximum rate.

I don't know how it works at tribunal and whether you have to re answer all the original questions with additional information. I would look at every ❓ again on the original application form and I'd go to CAB for some assistance in answering this with more information and description than the original application and then ask for re consideration.

You might be impacted in more ways than your application really stressed.

If you CAN leave the house but only accompanied then you've been given the wrong descriptor. It should be d or f. Either familiar or unfamiliar places. Sounds like f 12 points. E is only for people who can't leave the house

CAB is citizens advice bureau.

Many people who are Autistic have co morbid hyper mobility or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I have EDS and associated autoimmune conditions which have been so difficult to get diagnosed. EDS has a massive impact on joints, pain and digestive difficulties are common.

It isn't easy to find professionals who really get this but GPs are able to diagnose hyper mobility using standard assessment criteria. You could ask for them to consider this if you think you are hyper mobile ( very flexible). They don't always get it right as there's no test and the criteria is a bit crap and can miss genuine cases.

I hate how social security Scotland do their assessments too. In fact I don’t really feel it’s their place I think doctors should decide and cut out all the crap. Why do they make you go through these assessments

You have to explain and describe how every activity in each question on their assessment form is difficult and why. The problem is the way the questions are designed rather than anything else.

Saying I have agrophobia because I'm Autistic isn't enough and they won't care. You're probably more likely to be affected like this - I am Autistic, I suffer with agrophobia consistently and on a daily basis. I am never able to leave my house alone ever because of this. This makes it impossible to socialise in any meaningful way. Even with support, when I am able to leave the house I cannot do this or that. I am unable to manage or plan my own shopping and food requirements consistent because I have ( all your struggles).

You have alot to deal with and I believe you need someone to help you with this tribunal and getting more info written down in answer to these questions.

It's about knowing how best to answer each question and how to reflect what your worst days are like. I think you'd get some support from CAB. You'd have to ask for telephone support as it would be tough going to appointments I imagine.

If you can’t leave the house alone, who helps you with your children, if you live independently? How do you manage with the school run?