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Advocates for adults going through ESA appeal.

Bloodheart

I'm re-applying for Employment Support Allowance in a little over a week. I'm on JSA again now and despite only having been on JSA for 4 days I'm already so anxious and stressed about new rules, job search when I can't even work, my next sign-on day, not being able to follow my job seekers agreement, being sent to Work Program while on JSA or ESA, and re-applying for ESA that I am physically ill and feel like I'm perminantely close to meltdown. I really cannot cope with JSA. 

Last time I was on ESA I was found fit-for-work and so I appealed, I had a tribunal but it didn't go well so I was refused ESA. The tribunal was horrible, for multiple reasons, but a big problem was trying to express the problems I face with my autism (worse given as they ask about general day-to-day problems, not work-specific problems), the doctor was asking far too vague questions that I didn't know how to answer, for example when asked 'how do you manage day-to-day?' my answer is 'okay'. I couldn't find a way to express to them the full range of problems I face in order to make it clear to them that they need to put me on ESA. 

I was told last time I should get an advocate to help me, but I had very little notice and because it was over the New Year trying to find someone in time wasn't possible - plus executive functioning and communication problems meant it was just hard for me to find out where to go to get help or actually get round to seeking help. 

I'd like to get an advocate next time to help with a tribunal, and possibly to help with the medial assessment beforehand too, but I'm really worried about any advocate not knowing enough about autism to be able to get from me the information needed from me...or as is often the case with those who work with people with autism; they ask questions face-to-face or insist on contact on their terms rather than recognising that it's best to communicate via email, and so they miss out on all the information. 

  • Can NAS provide advocates for this purpose, or is anyone able to give me details on how to get an advocate? 
     
  • Has anyone ever used any sort of advocate in general, or specifically when dealing with ESA appeals?