Benefits + support for Autistic Spectrum Disorder

PIP is based on the impact of your disability on your daily life not the diagnosis, AA is easier to get but you have to be over pension age. I'm not sure I see your point. Yes if you are able to, you have to work, same as any other adult with a disability. 

However, physical disabilities are much better catered for in the workplace than those with hidden disabilities. In my past place of work - a research institute - there were laboratory benches that could be adjusted in height, each floor had two toilets for the disabled and everywhere was accessible for wheelchair users. As it was a modern building, there were open plan offices and even the closed offices had a glass wall. Everywhere was glass or open, even the laboratories. As a result, I constantly felt 'too in public', had no respite from other people and was vulnerable and anxious a lot of the time. From time to time I would go either to a toilet, or to the top of a flight of stairs that led to the roof, just to be on my own and unobserved. The place I worked in was affecting my wellbeing through its design.

Martin said:

From time to time I would go either to a toilet

I used to sit in the toilet for respite from my busy workplaces too.

I did most of my revision for my uni finals in the toilets in the basement of the maths department. Hardly anyone used them. It was a much better environment for study than the library, which was busy and noisy.

The system is set up for everyone to fail the first application, at one point success at appeal was over 75%. They hope people won't take it that far.

I got zero points, although I have suffered severe panic attacks in social situations leading to unconsciousness. 

The assessor concluded in his report that since I had a degree I had no social relationship problems.

It is not widely understood that PIP can be claimed by someone who is in full or part time work. The benefit is designed to cover the additional costs of living with a disability and it is not necessary to prove that a person cannot work.

Although it is mainly physical there are points available for relating to being unable to socialise, speaking, understanding and being unable to plan and follow a journey. There is a helpful guide on the turn2us website, detailing how many points are available for each part of the assessment. 

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Personal-Independence-Payment-Test/What-is-the-PIP-test#guide-content

From that website the socialise guide content states:

No points

You can socialise with other people, on their own or in small groups, without any help.

Examples of socialising:

• Talking to people and understanding their words and their moods
• Behaving appropriately
• Making friends

Two points

You can only socialise with other people if someone else reminds you or encourages you.

Four points

You need a specially trained person or a person who knows you well to help you to socialise with other people.

Examples of a specially trained person:

• Your carer
• Support worker

Eight points

You can’t socialise with other people because it makes you hurt yourself or other people.

You can’t socialise with other people because it makes you so distressed that you can’t do anything.

Examples of so distressed that you can’t do anything:

• You have an anxiety or panic attack
• You have a breakdown or meltdown

I really don't know how they can score any autistic person 0 points on this section alone. The person wouldn't have been diagnosed if they did not have difficulties with social communication, as that is one of the diagnostic criteria. 

It is not widely understood that PIP can be claimed by someone who is in full or part time work. The benefit is designed to cover the additional costs of living with a disability and it is not necessary to prove that a person cannot work.

Although it is mainly physical there are points available for relating to being unable to socialise, speaking, understanding and being unable to plan and follow a journey. There is a helpful guide on the turn2us website, detailing how many points are available for each part of the assessment. 

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Personal-Independence-Payment-Test/What-is-the-PIP-test#guide-content

From that website the socialise guide content states:

No points

You can socialise with other people, on their own or in small groups, without any help.

Examples of socialising:

• Talking to people and understanding their words and their moods
• Behaving appropriately
• Making friends

Two points

You can only socialise with other people if someone else reminds you or encourages you.

Four points

You need a specially trained person or a person who knows you well to help you to socialise with other people.

Examples of a specially trained person:

• Your carer
• Support worker

Eight points

You can’t socialise with other people because it makes you hurt yourself or other people.

You can’t socialise with other people because it makes you so distressed that you can’t do anything.

Examples of so distressed that you can’t do anything:

• You have an anxiety or panic attack
• You have a breakdown or meltdown

I really don't know how they can score any autistic person 0 points on this section alone. The person wouldn't have been diagnosed if they did not have difficulties with social communication, as that is one of the diagnostic criteria. 

The system is set up for everyone to fail the first application, at one point success at appeal was over 75%. They hope people won't take it that far.

I got zero points, although I have suffered severe panic attacks in social situations leading to unconsciousness. 

The assessor concluded in his report that since I had a degree I had no social relationship problems.