PIP assessment

[MemSahb]

Hi,
I need some good advice from you regarding PiP assessment.
My autistic son turned 16 and had to apply for pip as he has been on DLA from age 7.
He has some language but not able to describe his difficulties in an assessment.
His school reports confirm he has speech and language delay and his working memory is an issue and many other problems related to autism.
I filled in the pip form myself on hus behalf and ask him to sign.
His school reports and speech and language therapy reports don't describe his life at home.
He is not able to cook, needs reminders to change his clothes, his father gives him bath, he somehow not learning it.school reports confirm he needs reminder and prompts in the class.
The problem is he is not able to describe well why he can't cook or not take a shower by himself etc.
I thought I should give him some written advice to remember on a piece of paper but confused if it's a good idea....
How would he know what he has to say...his language is limited and he has poor memory.
Is this a problem if a person is not able to explain why they can't do certain things even though he has no physical disability.

We requested for the pip assessment to be recorded, the assessment was today, a lady called and said, I can see that you requested for recording of tge assessment, I will ask my boss and contact you after 20 minutes.
She came back after 20 mins and said, we have a problem today so we have no facilities to record, I will have to reschedule it 2 weeks later.
It is very stressful for my son now to wait another 2 weeks as well for me.

I would consider if DS is capable of managing the claim himself or whether he needs an appointee.

You can make notes beforehand.

Thanks
But if I write the notes, he will start to read it to them.
If I don't write then he will forget what to say.
By the way is it good enough to say he can't do certain things because of his autism or do we have to describe it in details?

I would seriously consider if an appointee is required.

It isn’t enough to say “I (or DS) can’t prepare a meal because I am/he is autistic…” You need to explain precisely what DS struggles with and why.

Thanks
..even if I was his appointee I also don't know why he can't prepare a meal.
He just can't do it neither follow instructions to do it.
I have 3 children, all on autism.
He us the only 1 who has some language

But if you were appointee, you could deal with the claim, which is part of the issue in your OP.

PIP is based on functional ability rather than diagnosis. You need to describe things in more detail than DS can’t do something because he is autistic. Autism has a wider range of presentations. Being autistic doesn’t always equal being unable to do the PIP activities. You need to explain why DS’s autism presents in a way that does. Think about what you wrote on the form. Break each activity down. For example:
What about DS’s autism means he can’t follow instructions?
Can DS use a knife? If not, why not?
Can he lift a pan? If not, why not?
Does he know how to turn the hob on? If not, what prevents him from learning?
Does he know how to know when something is cooked? If not, what makes that so?
Does he know what to do when something goes wrong? If not, what specifically about DS’s autism means he doesn’t?

Has DS had SALT, OT, EP and social care assessments? Does he have an EHCP?

He gets speech and language therapy and I submitted their reports with pip form.the reports describe his difficulties, his saying his working memory is an issue and he has difficulties with attention etc.

He has EHCP and I also sent it.

In the pip form I just wrote he can't perform certain things because of his autism as i myself don't know how to describe why etc.
They should know from hus school reports that if he has difficulties in school how can he be normal at home.

So the EHCP and evidence within it should help you to be able to explain why DS’s autism means he is unable to do the PIP activities. Also see this booklet for examples of breaking tasks down and what is considered. You should not rely on the assessor reading school reports and knowing from those DS can’t do Y. You need to explain what he can’t do and why.

It doesn’t sound like DS’s needs are really understood, so I would request a referral to OT and request an assessment from social care.