First claim for PIP for 17year old son-Put off by previous posts :(

[emma16]

My son received an initial diagnosis on the autism spectrum back in Oct 2013, it then took until 2017 for a multi disciplinary appointment where he was given a full diagnosis.
My son has Aspergers, I have never claimed DLA for him as I've always felt there are more people out there that needed the money and we have a good income between myself & my husband.
However, now my son is 17, the reality of his future has dawned more and more on me over the past year and a half. I dont' think he will get a job for a long time, we have tried a few times and ended in disaster...his self confidence is on an all time low, he's so scared of the 'big wide world' that he's failing at college because he doesn't see the point.
Anyway, i decided i needed to claim but I am so put off by all the posts on this section of people failing to get anywhere!! It makes me want to not even bother tbh. Is it really as hard as it sounds? Does anyone know how many points you have to score to receive a payment and how long does an award of PIP last for?

Hello!
It is a pain in the arse to write a lot about what your kid can't do, followed by why you/he can't 'just' do an 'obvious' thing that would fix it.

However, if you have a diagnosis and follow the formula text for each question, it should be fairly straightforward to get the points for standard rate care and possibly mobility. Probably for three years and then when they send you a review doc, you put unchanged and can add a couple anecdotes of problems.

My kids are younger so have DLA for ASD, but I've done a few PIP claims for me and others.

Key is to start well in advance gathering reports, records of prescriptions, etc, and drafting text for the question. I would type all answers in a Word doc, so you have a saved copy, can amend in the future, and also it makes it easier for assessors to read. You usually get about 3 weeks to fill in the PIP2 form, as it tends to take forever via the special DWP postal service, so best to be ready rather than trying to phone for an extension.

It is worth paying 16 quid for the Benefits and Work guide, as they have guidance on how to answer questions for common conditions, and also include the guidance assessors have to work to in deciding points. Bear in mind that it's all about 'how your conditions affect you', so if you say he never goes out to socialise, the reaction is 'fine'. If you say he has given up trying to socialise BECAUSE of the reactions, BUT if he had some money for a paid buddy he could practise going out and trying x activity... that gets points.

NAS have good guidance, FB groups often do too. Good luck.

And send the claim via signed-for delivery - it's amazing how many get lost until you point out it was signed for at their end and magically found...

This is a really handy self- test for you to get an idea of how many points your DS might score: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test

I put off a DLA application for several years for similar reasons (and I was throwing all my energy into the EHCP battle) but did it in the end, it took a long time to fill the form in but once I got going it was ok, we did get the award. About to launch into PIP, having subscribed to the Benefits and Work guide and done the screening, it's depressing but I do feel it's important.

One thing, at 16, by default, individuals are considered competent to make their own claim and receive the money directly into their own bank account. If he isn't capable of this another adult can be made his appointee to handle it but you will need to apply for appointeeship.

@NeedAUsernameGenerator thank you very much for that link, I did it and it really has reassured me that im claiming for the right reasons and genuinely my son needing it.
He scored 14 points on the Daily Living Component and 10 points on the Mobility component. This was made up of just one answer and that was for 'Planning & Following Journeys'. My son can't follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person with him, generally myself. Just shows how I take his functioning as 'normal' because it never occurred to me that he would get Mobility.

@jackparlabane many thanks for you comprehensive response, from what I've read it is all in the detail when providing examples of every day functioning to each answer isn't it.
You mentioned typing it up so easier for assessors to read, the form is to be hand written though, it isn't an online one. Do you mean number referencing it on the PIP form against a word document?

That's what I'm planning to do, cross reference it to Word docs. Mine gets mobility DLA because he is too anxious to use public transport without someone else with him. It's our normal but other teenagers can do it easily.

Yes, it's the 21st century. Do not try to fit answers on the form, especially not in handwriting - there isn't space and no-one wants to read handwriting. You'd need several extra sheets anyway.
Just scribble 'See attached' and put the numbered questions in your word doc.

I've done 2 claims for myself and both vanished until I told them the form had been returned and signature obtained...