• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 86 subscribers
  • Views 1619 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Son turned down for PIP advice needed

Anne206

Hi There,

Can anyone give me any help or advice on my situation. My son was turned down for PIP for the 1st time and I am going to appeal this. He was awarded 2 points on the daily living activities. The assessment was a phone call which lasted approximately 1 hour and half. He did lose concerntration after 45 mins and what the assessor didn’t know he was throwing sweets at me not in a violent way just messing about as he does when he gets restless he was also playing with his fidget dice cube thingy. The assessor asked what that noise was and we told her, but she never mentioned this in her report. He was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2021 after being referred in 2019. After the final diagnose in 2021 we thought we would have a break through, but things were worse. Now my son would rather think his thick and stupid and not been told what was wrong with him. He thought once he was diagnosed it would be better and he would get the help he needed. He dies self harm his moods gets low and he can lock himself  away for days. He needs help with medication, he doesn’t go out much as he can’t deal with too many people. His been like this since school age and he is now 39. Everything in the report was wrong and I wondered if the assessor was even listening I said he self harms because no one cares and he can’t cope. The worry I have if he storms out and not know what his doing in a depressed state. He does get anxious and depressed. Ever good thing he as achieved like passing his driving test in his early 20’s the assessor used that against him but he hasn’t drove in over 10 years because of the stress and he would only drive a short 15 minute drive town and back. He hasn’t had many jobs but always tried, never been employed over a year. People are not understanding of people with learning disabilities and can be very abusing towards him because his slow and they class him as lazy. He is not not good with strangers or big groups. I give up work a couple of years ago so I could be there for him and stop me worrying about what his doing. I am due to retire this year and I am finding it hard to cope with no support from anywhere just to help with forms, housing or any problems.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

Anne

  • HI, Just want to put this organisation your way; Fightback4Justice ( Advocacy For Disabled People CIC ) https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk I have used them in the past and they are excellent.

  • I'm from Northern Ireland. Our PIP claims are run by the Department for Communities NI, but Capita operate the phone calls.

    The trick is to deflect from questions about 'Good Days'. Keep the focus on what he can't do. That will cool them. 

  • Hello

    I'm very sorry to hear that you have been going through such a tough time with your son's mental health and that his PIP was turned down.

    Firstly, you may like to have a look at the mental health section of our website which has useful links to information and advice about a range of mental health issues: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health  

    The information on this page may be of particular interest:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/self-harm  

    Secondly, our ‘Finding Work’ handbook aims to support autistic job seekers to find work. This digital workbook is designed to help autistic adults prepare themselves for employment. Topics include understanding autism better, choosing a suitable role, applying for roles, preparing for and getting through interviews, finding work experience, working on communication and social skills, managing anxiety and preparing for the workplace. It can be downloaded for free here: https://www.autism.org.uk/shop/products/books-and-resources/finding-work-interactive-ebook 
     
    We have also made available a free online learning module designed to help autistic job seekers entering the job market in understanding their strengths and what next steps they could take towards gaining meaningful employment or work: 
    https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/professional-development/training-and-conferences/employment/finding-employment 

     Additionally, it could be worthwhile looking at the Evenbreak website for listed job vacancies (http://www.evenbreak.co.uk/). Even break matches disabled job seekers with employers looking to build a diverse workforce. 
     

    The British Association of Supported Employment, who have a database of supported employment agencies, so you can search for one in your local area: www.base-uk.org 

    Remploy, an organisation which supports people with disabilities and those experiencing complex barriers to work, into mainstream employment: www.remploy.co.uk 

     I have also included a link to our job-page: 

     https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us 

     Within this page you can click on our job and volunteering page to find out about our current employment and volunteering opportunities with The National Autistic Society. We particularly welcome applications from autistic people. 

      Finally, you can find more information about seeking a job, and about your rights in work here: 

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment 

     

    You may like to have a look at the following page on challenging a PIP decision:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/benefits-and-money/benefits/benefits-appeals/challenging-a-pip-decision

    I hope this helps,

    ChloeMod

  • You have a few options, You can take it to tribunal yourself but this process can take around 12 months, involves going to a hearing can be very stressful.

    You can contact your local advocacy team such Equal Lives who can assist you through a imidate re appeal which can take between three and twelve months to be processed by the DWP but you have to arrange this as soon as possible from when you were denied. They may take it tribunal with you and get it back dated with compensation.

    Medical evidence such a formal diagnosis, medical records contain evidence of medication and even previous letters from mental health teams can support the claim and make it difficult for them to spin or twist it.

    It may be worth paying between £30 and £75 for a GP to write a letter you can send off to the DWP to support your claim stating complexities and issues such as waiting lists for additional treatment or medicine intolerant. If you son is like me and has depression and anxiety but doesn't respond positive or typically to antidepressant and anti anxiety medication you will need the GP letter as they will definitely say that he is not depressed enough because he is not on any sort of medication to treat it,

    If your son has no intellectual disability and cannot seem to integrate into a employment situation and the former employer understand it may be worth while requesting and speaking to them about writing a supporting letter. This may mean you writing a letter and agreeing with a former employer to agree to sign it. You can also get a similar letter from an educational establishment as long as they've attended in last few years. 

    Your local MP or political figure can write a supporting letter to support you claim,

    If you son has had a destructive meltdown that resulted in police intervention then their should be a record you can request of the incident, You can even request they write a supporting letter.

    A letter from a social worker or support workers also help, You may want to look into a need assessment to get a health care plan in place as it will support certain aspects of the claim. 

  • Sorry to hear this. I understand that most people are failed first time, and you must appeal. The person doing the assessment doesn’t even have to be knowledgeable in medical matters, and this infuriates me. It’s an unfair process. People only claim because they have no other option, yet the process is so difficult. It’s like we’re being set up to fail.

    Did you specify exactly what care you give, and how he is on his worst days? I think that’s crucial. 

    I am asking because I am currently helping my daughter to fill out her forms, and am unsure how to go about it.