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Universal credit

NAS74279

Hi I'm new on here and wondered if anyone could advise me please ? My 21 Yr old son has autism and anxiety I've tried to get them to speak to me as he gets very stressed and anxious talking on the phone I've been passed from pillar to post between universal credit and another department (I can't think of the name ) so they still insist on speaking to him now they've said if he doesn't verify who he is he'll lose his payments and have to pay all past money back as you can imagine this is worrying him and he probably won't sleep tonight as the the phone call is tomorrow sorry for the long post any advice would be much appreciated Thank-you Helen .

  • Hi, My experience with DWP is very similar. Im 24 and have severe anxiety and Asperges. I find speaking/doing things in said situations quite distressing. 

    If it helps, when i first started claiming UC my nan became my Benefits Appointee this would allow her to call them and sort things out with them without them needing to talk to me, this was a pretty easy thing to set up if I remember rightly.

    I don't think the DWP understand just how much them/their processes can push some people, I hope everything gets sorted for you and your son. 

    GOOD LUCK Fingers crossed

  • Hi,

    My apologies in advance, this has triggered me massively. I’m so sorry you have to go through this. My mum did the same for me when I was undiagnosed. I’m still waiting for this to come. However as I have finally accepted I need help the more and more I realise what I have been masking.

    To get this call out of the way can he be present in the room with you, with the phone on speaker phone? This was one way me and my mum used to do things together. 

    This is hard to read and write, because I know the symptoms oh so well. Your poor son, it’s difficult, . He needs to verify his identity and answer their questions. I suggest you get all documentation together off his diagnosis and support needs.

    This is an ableist mentality from them. If you send a note on his online journal and explain (as if he was writing it) that due to his mental health and ongoing symptoms of autism he struggles to use the phone and that he has has asked you to advocate for him as his guardian. There should be a system.

    Secondly he can apply for a work capability assessment through them. This should highlight his communication difficulties. It can also get him extra income.

    Thirdly he needs to get PIP involved. These are ongoing means of support. As someone who used to get highly aggressive when speaking on the phone, and couldn’t communicate. I understand his pain, for a long time I stopped communicating on the phone.

    If he is going through his GP they should have a community worker and a local disabilities charity who are experienced in dealing on the phone with organisations and filling out paperwork with him and speaking for him.

    I hope this helps

  • Yes that is kinda scary and threatening --- can you arrange a face to face meeting that you and your son can attend to sort this out. Would your son agree to that ?