I'm sure this subject has been discussed to death, for that I can only apologise.
For a couple of years now, doing a little research on my own, I think that I may have what a Work Psychologist I saw 01/2012 called a neuro diverse condition. I thought it might be Aspergers, it might be ADD possibly Dyspraxia. I'm by no means an expert nor a diagonistician. I could be completely wrong and, as i suspect my GP thinks (but doesn't say), lazy!
When I first saw the Work Psychologist (a dwp person, i don't know much about the specific role as I'd never heard of them before) I was on JSA. Since then I started on the Work Programme which I am still on. She claimed she could test for Aspergers but relented to saying she could do some kind of test to see if I might have ADD. I realise that makes no sense, but it involved answering a load of puzzles like remembering number sequences backwards and spotting patterns and stuff. From what I could understand she said it was highly likely. I have yet to get an official diagnosis as such facilities are not local to me and I find travelling around cities rather scary. There is now a chance the local CMHT might do one.
However the Work Programme treated me badly. They ignored the information regarding my mental health (even though no formal diagnosis) and refused to accept even the possibility of such problems - of any kind. I was told that without a support worker present they wouldn't countenance any such possibility. I made a complaint and have since changed advisers. Though the replacement is better they still admit they can't do anything. Basically the WP is rubbish. I was told that the main problem was because I was on JSA and that I should claim ESA.
To cut a long and predictable story short that's what I did, six months later I have, unsurprisingly, failed the WCA. I've sent the GL24 form back to lodge an appeal. I'm not sure how that will work but I'm told that doing so reinstates my benefit until such time as they decide whether to change their mind (I doubt it, let's be honest). In the meantime I have to persuade my GP I need help.
I suppose my point in posting is just to hear what other people think. I haven't found my GP to be terribly helpful or sympathetic and the system certainly isn't. ESA should be employment support, but it seems to work on the basis that, in order to get into the WRAG (my stated goal, i don't claim to be deserving of the support group) you need to also qualify for the support group. This doesn't make much sense to me. As a result I feel guilty as if I'm swinging the lead. But on the other hand, I just can't cope with the DWP. I find life difficult and I find dealing with society at times very hard. All the stuff you've heard before no doubt.
I can't say for certain I'm an aspie/add/whatever, so I could be wrong. But just trying to get support and be taken seriously is horrendous. It's enough to make you ill even if you aren't. If anyone has any advice I'd be grateful, thanks.
As crazy as it seems what you describe is absolutely 'normal'.
Very few people on the spectrum pass the WCA - so you're right on track there - as you say, they don't assess anything like the right kinds of things for AS and ASDs.
Also just about everybody 'fails the first part of the appeal' - right on track again there too - basically the first part of the appeal consists of the DWP saying "no, we're going to change our decision" which they almost always do say.
The CAB are absolutely correct, ESA is not just for people that can't work - it's also for people who want to, but need extra help in getting, and staying in, work.
And, lastly, the people you'll see are not DWP employees, they will be a very highly trained Doctor (and, yes, they are a real Doctor), and a very highly trained Judge - as I believe I explained before it is the job of the Doctor to explain to the Judge how your condition affects your ability to work, the Judge then sees how that applies within the law as it is written (not the law as the DWP chooses to interpret it).
So, because the law says that ESA is for people that need extra help in getting and staying in work, I forget the exact statistics, but something like 80% or 90% of all appeals are successful.
Hang in there. Things do get better.
I didn't even have my Asperger's diagnosis when I went to appeal - I just strongly suspected that I had it (and was on the path towards a diagnosis) - and my appeal was succesful at the tribunal.
If you are open, and truthful, the Doctor will see what difficulties you have.
As crazy as it seems what you describe is absolutely 'normal'.
Very few people on the spectrum pass the WCA - so you're right on track there - as you say, they don't assess anything like the right kinds of things for AS and ASDs.
Also just about everybody 'fails the first part of the appeal' - right on track again there too - basically the first part of the appeal consists of the DWP saying "no, we're going to change our decision" which they almost always do say.
The CAB are absolutely correct, ESA is not just for people that can't work - it's also for people who want to, but need extra help in getting, and staying in, work.
And, lastly, the people you'll see are not DWP employees, they will be a very highly trained Doctor (and, yes, they are a real Doctor), and a very highly trained Judge - as I believe I explained before it is the job of the Doctor to explain to the Judge how your condition affects your ability to work, the Judge then sees how that applies within the law as it is written (not the law as the DWP chooses to interpret it).
So, because the law says that ESA is for people that need extra help in getting and staying in work, I forget the exact statistics, but something like 80% or 90% of all appeals are successful.
Hang in there. Things do get better.
I didn't even have my Asperger's diagnosis when I went to appeal - I just strongly suspected that I had it (and was on the path towards a diagnosis) - and my appeal was succesful at the tribunal.
If you are open, and truthful, the Doctor will see what difficulties you have.
