Tag Archives: Personal Independence Payment

dirty hands

Personal Independence Payment Reasons for Saying No to Asperger’s Syndrome

Personal Independence Payment the ironic process where people with Asperger’s Syndrome need to be able to communicate their difficulties with communication. I am sure this new disability benefit has affected so many people in so many ways. If you have been following the journey so far then you will know that my son with Asperger’s Syndrome was asked to switch from DLA to PIP; that he has already had the PIP Face-to-Face Consultation and been told that he does not qualify for Personal Independence Payment.  I have since sent in a request for a mandatory reconsideration and had asked for the request copies of the evidence that they used to make the decision. I have now received that evidence and have a further 2 weeks to add anything else or I can ask them to just go ahead and make a decision. This is what I have gleaned from the evidence that they made their decision on.

To represent the Personal Independence Interview around computer with two people sitting opposite one other
Photo by Štefan Štefančík on Unsplash

The Decision for not Granting Personal Independence Payment for my son with Asperger’s Syndrome

The first thing I would say is not to wait until you receive the decision but to ask for the notes straight away (I was advised over this but naively felt confident that he would be awarded standard rate). Secondly personally I feel that I am fighting a losing battle as the assessors clearly have no knowledge of Autistic Spectrum Condition and are basically applying that most young people don’t eat/wash/deal with finances etc – and I am just a parent that is worried and will not let go!

How to turn up to a personal independence interview ragged clothes and a walking stick
Photo by Chelsea Aaron on Unsplash

The physical seems to be a tick box too – he can physically talk, walk, wash, cook etc – anything mentally seems to be ignored: This is because it means it is deemed not significant enough: Examples are that he is not taking any medication to help with his mental health or anxiety; and does not have a guide person with him 24:7 helping him with social, communication and interaction – and never has.

The decision is made on their own assumptions: In fact the report basically says that because there is no-one helping him it suggests that the majority of the time he is indeed having no problems with social and communication. The fact that the food is not fresh/nutritious is “not considered within the scope of this activity.” Basically that cognitively he is capable of cooking. Basically they have decided on their answer and then just copied and pasted this for each section – with some having a little more twist towards the question but not all.

Evidence for Personal Independence Payment

Basically it boils down to proving it by the looks of things. No matter what it says about whether you need help but don’t get it or not that’s rubbish. My son was not awarded it based on not having hard evidence: The only evidence they used was from the PIP Questionnaire.  Unlike Disability Living Allowance they did not attempt to contact anyone to confirm my son’s difficulties from a professional point. This whole thing has adjusted my view on whether people should fight and now my answer is always yes – as you never know what is around the corner. Unsure about needing a diagnosis? Fight for one anyway. Do not think they can get an EHCP (Education Health Plan)? Fight for one anyway. NEVER let it go, because whilst you/your child may be coping right now it will be used as evidence against you later on if you didn’t try to get it!

man and woman talking over a computer screen
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

As he was unable to communicate his daily struggles and how often affects him, it went against him – but not enough to suggest that he has difficulty talking to others and expressing himself! Anything I added as his appointee was belittled and I was only referred to as his “mum.” We were not asked about the variability, triggers or treatment during the face to face consultant but they were all put as none – obviously when asked at the start you need to make these clear!

Tips for a Face to Face Consultancy Meeting for Personal Independence Plan for Autistic Spectrum Disorder

  • Make it clear not only what the symptoms are of the condition but what is the variability, the triggers and any treatments.
    • Make sure this is communicated well, whilst not being seen to be able to communicate.
  • Do not have your mother as an appointee as she will just be referred to as Mum – and we know how fussy they are!
  • Take tablets.
  • Don’t follow instructions to where you need to go.
  • Be underweight.
  • Be unclean.
  • Be ungroomed.
  • Give no eye contact.
  • Struggle to breath.
  • Be badly dressed.
  • Struggle to walk – it has no relevance to your Autistic Spectrum Condition but it is mentioned so many times on the form so MUST be important.

    dirty hands
    Photo by Ian Espinosa on Unsplash

All joking aside, I tried not to judge the guy who came in who did smell, “struggled” with his cane etc – and it was hard not to think why isn’t someone really looking after this person if things are really this bad?! He had someone with him too so not like he was just alone.

On the other hand this process has made me feel like a fraud. A scrounger trying to get money for a young man who it appears to be more than capable of living independently when there are so many others out there who aren’t. It makes me feel like he just has to try – that we are obviously doing something wrong. That I am just neurotic worrying, and fighting for support to ensure he eats, washes and has help with communication. I am not even sure it is worth trying to fight any more – never mind putting him through a tribunal.

I would be interested to know what kinds of support people who have been successful at Tribunal do receive/need to Gage whether it is worth the fight.

Thankfully Student Finance England do not agree with this decision and have awarded him his Disability Support Assist and so IS able to access help he needs to live more independently.

This Guide may be of use to anyone going through the process too: http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

 

paper square angry face,held up in front of a brick wall

Personal Independence Payment: Asperger’s Syndrome Decision

Bastards!

paper square angry face,held up in front of a brick wall
Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Excuse my language but that was my reaction to the decision to end my son’s Disability Living Allowance just before Christmas, on the grounds that he has not been awarded Personal Independence Payment. After being put through that hideous PIP Interview they have made the decision that he has scored zero points.

Understanding why they said No to Personal Independence Payment for Asperger’s Syndrome

I understand why they said no to Personal Independence Payment for Asperger’s Syndrome as I am aware that our son is doing incredibly well living away from home. That there was the chance he would not be awarded PIP, as even in the interview it was said that he would be on the border of whether he would get it or not. This had shocked me as I felt sure he met the criteria for at least 12 points, which would entitle him to enhanced, but I had got my head around the fact that there’s others much worse off than him and maybe it is just because he is doing so well. After all, he has managed to move out, and with support is coping incredibly well (trying not to dwell on how much he isn’t looking after himself and could be in danger).

sink full of dirty pans
Photo by Scott Umstattd on Unsplash

I can understand how the Department for Work and Pensions don’t get that he isn’t really washing himself properly (or regularly) and choosing the right clothes – and that I am letting him live like that to help him get more independent. Taking a chance on the letting go – and fearing that he’s not being taken care of, and is putting himself in danger (and honestly I don’t NEED to hear that MOST teenagers are like this either!). I do, I get that. I mean it is hard enough for me to get my head around without them having to struggle: Knowing that there’s just support at the University and a Specialist Mentor that he sees once a week (at a cost of £60 an hour via his Disability Support Assist from the Student Finance England). Yes he isn’t receiving any more support and it is hard for them to see that just because he isn’t getting something doesn’t mean he doesn’t need it. Obviously otherwise I would have fought harder to get him the care he needs – right?

Not Understanding why they said No to Personal Independence Payment with Asperger’s Syndrome

But the fact that he scored zero points on every aspect of the form – not even we recognise that his Asperger’s Syndrome affects his life but maybe not enough for payment – I really cannot understand though. It is like they have the ability to completely cure him of his Asperger’s Syndrome. Making me feel like a fraud for ever claiming for him in the first place. Saying that he has absolutely no problems with social and communication! Are you kidding me! Even though at his face to face consultation they saw it! Even though it took until he was 10 years old to be diagnosed (he was first assessed at aged 2) – after at least a year of professional bodies observing and assessing him before a diagnosis was made! But this interviewer, the one with the family member on the Autistic Spectrum, he is in the know. And my son is just fine – now if only I could believe the DWP as much as they believe themselves! I mean I don’t know what all those Speech and Language Therapist thought they knew – but they are completely wrong. And those struggles he has – well he’s obviously just playing me and being lazy!

jumbled up and backwards neon words that make no sense
Photo by Alisa Mulder on Unsplash

Mandatory Reconsideration for Personal Independence Payment

mother comforting upset child
Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash

My son was so upset when I told him the result, and I have promised I will appeal (starting with a request for a Mandatory Reconsideration for Personal Independence Payment). But I don’t think it will do any good – they have made their minds up – he’s okay. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t eat and needs reminding because when pushed he said he can reheat a pizza and waffles in the oven; honestly what more nutritious meal could anyone want. So many factors ignored. My emotions all over the place; as strong as I try to be I go back to worrying that I am just doing it all wrong. They brought up the lack of support at school, and they just said it was rubbish parenting. Maybe I shouldn’t be so angry at the decision, and just be grateful that they are right?!

Read more on why the DWP made their decision to say no