What are the criteria with AS to get DLA?

IntenseWorld said:

Is there a more AS-aware organisation than CAB to help with the adult one (seeing as there are plenty of places to go for children but none I am aware of for adults)?  I do have co-morbid mental health issues BTW, in common with at least 70% of people with ASCs.

Unfortunately, like so many things, the advice and help you can get varies very much from area to area.

If you happen to live or near Cambridge, then I can tell you that Cambridge CAB is excellent, and that there will soon be a 'drop in centre' in Fulborn.

But, that's not to say that such provisions will exist anywhere else, or be as good.

Also, on the subject of a given % of ESA claims failing, it is a known fact that when the ESA was first introduced ATOS were under instruction to fail a certain percentage of WCAs. I believe this was supposedly changed, but I suspect that they simply reworded the way the WCAs are meant to be implemented whilst keeping the effect of failing a certain % the same.

And, yes, it has been stated many times, even by prominant politicians, that such a system almost certainly ends up costing more because the cost of the appeals process.

With my autism, I need predictable events and outcomes or my stress and anxiety kicks in. Jumping benefit hoops every 6 months or so, waiting for letters, etc, IS KILLING ME.

quote"I just cannot understand when people have official diagnoses why you need to qualify your health and don't just get the benefits automatically".

That is why I am really angry ! But I have a good coping strategy,, now,, I just tell them now I see it,, poor doctors, benefit people,, because I need to release the anger THEY CAUSE !!!!!!!!!!  I AM SORRY BUT UNTIL THE BASTARDS RECOGNISE THE DAMAGE THEY DO TO AUTISTIC PEOPLE AND OTHER VULNERABLE PEOPLE, MY WRATH WILL CONTINUE AND I PRAY FOR A REVOLUTION IN THIS COUNTRY. LET LONDON BURN. IT IS THE ONLY WAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T GIVE A ***.

Sorry guys, but all I can do is scream now, I don't have the emotional energy to cope with there benefit maze. I wish they would all just *** off.

@Openheart: I feel your frustration and pain.  I'm in a similar position right now, but I don't have the angry element much because I am just too mentally exhausted.  I used to be able to function reasonably, if with a lot of anxiety.  But I am losing my independence skills and I cannot even make a phone call these last few days.

I think more acknowledgement needs to be made that when you have any mental health condition filling a form in, or even speaking to someone else to help you do it is virtually impossible.

I just cannot understand when people have official diagnoses why you need to qualify your health and don't just get the benefits automatically.

I think the NAS needs to fight our corner on this.

It is utterly soul-destroying when you have filled in a seemingly never-ending form, anxiously worrying whether you understood the questions properly, whether you answered literally or explained enough, that you get refused.

One could argue, that if autism is caused by something environmental (whether it be vaccinations, pollution or whatever) that the government holds a responsibility to us and ought to treat benefits like DLA as compensation for what they have done.

quote" do think they have a policy of refusing all but the most severe of cases of disability first time round. They probably work on a percentage will appeal will still be less than the original amount of applicants so they save money that way. I would have thought it's short-sighted though because the cost of appeals is massive."

I agree,, I should have been getting DLA for years, but was not well enough to appeal, I got a bit of help from the benefit worker because it got to the stage were I could not fill in forms, answer anymore questions, THE BENEFIT SYSTEM PUT ME IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND CONFUSION, so much for getting assistance to working, even can't even design a decent human claim system,, they have taken that much emotional energy off me now, that I would not trust the bastards with anything now. I am now in state of freeze up when it comes to benefits,, but maybe that is the way the governmental scum want it to be, so I can't claim anything. THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IS SO INHUMAN, I feel like a labelled and processed piece of cattle in a herd.

As far as I am concern, I have been officially diagnosed with Autism and a mirade of secondary conditions, OCD, GAD, IBS, DEPRESSION, so why do I have to even go through there satanic hoop jumping system ?

We do have a Welfare Rights Service. 

Our Welfare Rights Service offers advice, information and support on all aspects of social security benefit entitlement. This includes advice on which benefits you may be entitled to, general advice on completing claim forms, what to do if you think a decision is wrong and how to appeal to a tribunal.

More info below

http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/advice-and-information-services/welfare-rights-service.aspx

I sent my claim (pack was requested on 23rd May) to them on 28th June so if I appeal it would still be DLA, w.e.f. 10th June all new claims have to be PIP.  If I appeal and they still refuse it I guess then I'd have to wait the 6 months and apply for PIP.

I will look on this website to see if there is any more information that can help, I think I did look at it before I applied but I don't recall there being any huge detail on it, and as I tend to reply to exactly what's asked I expect I didn't include information that might have helped.

I do think they have a policy of refusing all but the most severe of cases of disability first time round.  They probably work on a percentage will appeal will still be less than the original amount of applicants so they save money that way.  I would have thought it's short-sighted though because the cost of appeals is massive.

It doesn't help that I have alexithymia either, as I have only recently started to identify my struggles due to realising they are AS traits from reading other peoples' AS experiences, which is an ongoing revelation.  I thought what I go through was normal for everyone (and wondered why life was so very hard and difficult), so if you struggle to identify your emotions and experiences how can you easily report them on a form?

Re eldest's I am going to get the help of the local parent partnership charity to appeal.

Is there a more AS-aware organisation than CAB to help with the adult one (seeing as there are plenty of places to go for children but none I am aware of for adults)?  I do have co-morbid mental health issues BTW, in common with at least 70% of people with ASCs.

I agree that it is not at all geared towards people in our situation.  With my daughter's refusal they basically said if she doesn't have amputated legs or limbs hanging off and not deaf or blind or totally crazy she can't get it.  They do seem to have toughened up (and in a very unreasonable way).

She has OCD and anxiety too so even her case is not a simple AS case.

Thanks for your help.

I also get both the lowest care and lowest support DLA rates. It's not a huge amount of money, but it definitely makes a difference, and I'm sure I would find life much much harder without it.

Now, what advice I can give you, IntenseWorld is, I'm afraid, not a great deal.

Like everything else in the benefits system it, on the face of it, is not set up to cater for people on the Autistic Spectrum who don't also have secondary physical or mental health conditions.

However, that is not to say you can not get it.

It's unfortunately a matter of 'playing the game' and writing the right things on the DLA application form.

My advice would have been to go to your local CAB or other advice center and ask them to assist you in filling out the form, but it sounds like you've already sent the form in.

If this is the case then, IIRC, you can re-apply after, I think, 6 months, so unless they've brought in PIP by then (I forget when that's coming in), and your claim is refused, then, as I say, go to the CAB, get help with it, and apply again then.

Likewise for your eldest.

I get the DLA, low care and low support rates, I don't understand what that means or even how much I get,, (my aspergers), can't focus on benefit/ moneyshit, it stresses me out with all the questions, assessments etc. I would honestly be living in a cardboard box outside if it was not for an advice benefit worker doing the forms for me.