Published on 12, July, 2020
I’m so sorry. If you feel you have the energy to begin the appeals process then it might be worth trying. I would seek some advice and see if you might have a chance of being successful. The system is terrible - I’m so sorry you’re being put through this. Good luck.
Omg I'm so sorry you got turned down. I saw others great suggestions as well which is fab. Hopefully citizens advice can help you. The man you spoke to sounded a bit off clearly no idea what it's like to have autism. Massive difference between feeding the ducks and having hours of stress at work. Don't get disheartened I'm sure you can get it sorted soon.
Good. God definitely does work in mysterious ways, which gives ample room for people to doubt his work, but it's all going to be good in the end, ya just gotta get through this bit.
Autism will give you "special powers" as well as special problems, so keep pressing on. I've just had an opportunity for frendship and minro personal gain come in on the phone, so I'll be taking a break now to try and do that, but I'll step back later and see if there's more practcial advice I can whomp up.
But being NICE and responding well to nice people is a must and a basic survival skill. (As is being nice and responding correctly to nasty people!)
Thank you, there are a lot of useful ideas for me to mull over here. I still have my faith in God, although I do feel confused as to what is going on in my life I will never lose that
I think the process is designed for that. I wouldnt be surprised if they get comission for how many people they reject
The letter genuinely said I "have no cognitive or sensory impairment" Im autistic, you cant get more of a sensory impairment than that!! Im absolutley staggered by it. He has also written downright lies claiming I have said I can do things that I clearly told them I couldnt do
Just really desperate to be listened to, feel lost in the system. I really feel listened to and understood here and that helps
It really is, it felt like he had made up his mind before he wrote it
That doesn't surprise me. I think most people find they get refused when it's their first time applying because the system is intentionally set up to fail the claimants.
I'm sorry to hear that. You really needed some good news in your life. It is unjust and unfair. The current system is designed for physical disabilities and hidden disabilities are not adequately taken into account.
From what I have read on here the process seems to be designed to deliberately trip up the claimant. There are many similar stories on here of people being awarded 0 points. However don't give up as there are also success stories of people who have been successful at the appeal stages. For example https://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/12632/zero-points-for-pip-and-same-again-after-mandatory-reconsideration-worth-going-to-tribunal and there are many more such discussions.
Do you have any advocacy services in your area that might help you contest this? Alternatively support and advice can be obtained from charities such as Citizens Advice or Turn to Us
It may help you to know that this is a recognised problem and that there is currently some academic research underway to explore this further https://www.autistica.org.uk/our-research/research-projects/disability-benefit-assessments-for-autistic-adults
Well you've learned one lesson.
It ain't your government!
They will eventually if you really kick and scream eventually exchange enough money to live in penury for UTTER OBEDIENCE, jerking you from pointless interview to claimants advisor meetings until you manifest enough worthlessness to qualify for the dubious "benefits" they have to offer.
Although HAVING money seems to confer greater freedom of action and freedom from want, actually the process of ACQUIRING money is utter slavery these days, whether you work for it or beg for it from strangers (including government benefits).
I've struggled with this issue for years & the solution is to team up with someone who is both functional in this system of money and will accept that you are not. On one occasion I found that a partner would help me overcome the deficits that were preventing me from getting a decent job under my own steam, and in my current situation my partner was perfectly financially stable before I entered her life, and sees me as "worth keeping around".
So BillyC87, you turn to your autistic self for help. YOU are the best resource you have. That and God. God if you develop a relationship with him, will get you through life reasonably unscathed but growing THAT understanding is a personal deal, and I don't you'll be doing it because I suggest it, so let's look at your practical problems.
Everyone needs food, clothes (warmth) and shelter. Plus we then need emotional stuff, in order to survive.
And believe me; When you are sixty, cold, skint, suffering from a thirty year old and intermittently (today adn yesterday) very painful back injury, and contemplating the death of the society in which you were born unfolding before your very eyes, and NO-ONE listens to you, including your own child because well, you didn't make as much money in your life as Uncle Jim, there are still those days like today, where you don't want to do anything but curl up in a warm place, then unless you realise and weild your own power, life can be very miserable indeed.
I used to play card games as a child and young man, and one called "bridge" stands out as a good metaphor for life. you play as two teams of two individuals per team. "Willing" is not only about the quality of your cards which when considering it as a metaphor for life, I see as your basic human qualities. Obviously Autism is the "crap of clubs" but in my case I also had the "king of being able to fix stuff" dealt to me in my life hand. I also had other good qualities, as well as a few more bad ones. But in Bridge just as in life, it's how you PLAY those cards that matters and how you interact with your partner.
On a practical level, if you really cannot immediately find a way to live a self sufficient life without government intervention, then go straight to the Citizens Advice People and ask them for their advice.
OR sit yourself down, take stock, draw diagrams, make lists, and calculate your input and expenditure and figure out a solution. It's a big job, but you do have the rest of your life to get it right...
Yes it was
Really sorry to hear this
It illustrates very well the comments in the thread below
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/28416/benefits-support-for-autistic-spectrum-disorder
What a horrid demoralising experience for you.
Out of curiosity, was this your first time applying for PIP?
Thank you, thats really helpful. My wife is on hold to them now, I have said to her to ask for a welfare rights officer. I really need this
My advice would be to get in touch with Citizens Advice a.s.a.p. and request an appointment with one of their Welfare Rights officers. I was in a similar situation to you back in 2019 (my first time applying for PIP) and also scored 0 points. After a Welfare Rights officer from CAB got involved and sent a letter on my behalf, my application was looked at again and I was then awarded PIP.