Has anyone successfully applied for PIP?

Hi , I’ve been refused PIP , went through the mandatory reconsideration still didn’t get enough points. So now I’m going to a tribunal. The thought of this makes me very anxious but I want to fight this. I’m struggling every day and also have chronic pain. The assessor didn’t really take anything on board I said! It’s a really hard process, very stressful. I wish you all the best. I work part time and I was diagnosed as autistic last year, I’m in my 50’s. Good luck.

That's how cute they are. 

Im currently going through it, it is horrific. I got 0 on everything, then got the Citizens Advice to write a mandatory reconsideration letter for me and got 0 again.

They ignored everything I said and wrote blantant lies on my assesment form. For instance I told them I once tried to jump out of a moving car rather than go to work because of the destress going to work caused me and they wrote that I suffered "no extreme destress going to work"

I hope the Tories are out soon too. Like you though I’m not convinced a Labour government is going massively transform anything - but they’ll at least be better than the current Tory bunch. I’ve never known such terrible Governments as the last 3 Tory Governments. Shockingly bad. Sometimes so bad you can’t quite take it in. 

I’m pleased for you Desmond. It’s no small achievement to navigate the system and get what you’re entitled to. Great that your award is for such a long time too - so you don’t have to soon dread going through it all again! 

I got my form filled, professionally, in March 2021; then had a phone interview, November 2021, and I managed to maintain my award; Standard Rate daily living.

I managed to idea-deflect well enough to keep the focus on what I couldn't do.

My award is until 2027.

I looked at the qualifying questions and thought there's no way I'd get it. Seems if you can feed yourself and lift heavy objects then you can work. Very discriminatory in the way the process is applied. Doesn't seem ASD level 1 friendly at all. 

I agree with you that the govt deliberately makes it hard to claim, there are two reasons why they do this:

1. because they really don’t think they have a “magic money tree” and are trying to restrict spending in all areas not just disability and mental health. Having said this though it is clear this lack of a magic money tree is only true when it suits them, so they are happy to plough billions endlessly into the defence budget, and spent huge sums in the pandemic,  Which relates to the second reason  …

2, primarily all that all politicians of all shades are concerned about is the power that being elected gives them and so they design their policies and procedures, and indeed spending,  to appeal to the people who elected them in order to stay in power. The majority of the electorate under the first past the post system of the last general election are the Brexit xenophobes of  judgmental right wing of the UK, many sadly those in dire need themselves of support (note the “red wall” seats). 

Id like to hope that in the probable Labour govt which will follow the Tories things would improve, but don’t hold your breath as they as in thrall to this driver (point 2) as the Tories. 

It’s so intimidating isn’t it Cullpepper? We were made almost ill with the stress of it - both times. We dread the time when my son will have to reapply. True DREAD. It’s just the forms etc it’s the stress of the fact that it feels quite threatening in a way? Like their basic assumption when approaching you is with suspicion I’m some way. Because both myself and my son are autistic we find that ‘sense’ of sort of ‘interrogation’ really really hard to cope with. The first time my son applied (for DLA at the time) the assessor came to the house and we found that SO difficult to cope with. We don’t really have anyone come to our house (unless it’s completely unavoidable) because we struggle with that at the best of times. But feeling that this person was almost trying to ‘catch us out’ even though we knew we’d not done anything wrong - it was really horrible. My son in particular has such a worry about being ‘told off’ or accidentally doing something wrong - and it made him incredibly anxious. Fortunately his most recent renewal was during Covid and they didn’t do a home visit or him having to talk to them on the phone  (my son can’t talk on the phone due to his Selective Mutism). That was such a relief for him.

I think the whole process of claiming PIP is not autism friendly at all (understatement!). In fact claiming anything is not easy if you have any neurodivergence or mental health issues. It should be a kinder and more supportive application process. I feel sure that without my support my adult son would never apply for it because it’s so complicated and also so intimidating. I’m sure there must be countless people out there who are entitled to PIP but just can’t cope with the application process. The thing that angers me is that I think the Govt deliberately designs it to make it hard to claim - fully knowing that this must deter some of the most vulnerable people in society who desperately need the help. Sorry - starting to rant! But I feel so passionately about this. 

Thanks Kate, really appreciate your thoughtful reply. I’ve done lots of research and do qualify but I also know lots of others who do but are turned down so I’m prepared for this and will appeal without doubt. If I can then talk to Citz Adv f2f I will seek their advice but so far haven’t been able to persuade them to do this. Fortunately I’m collecting the official statement of suggested reasonable adjustments from my autism team later today and hope this will be a tool to challenge this procedural discrimination. Another thing on my side is that as part of my working life I was a very successful writer of funding bids (to for example ESF, ERDF, SRB, NRF) and these skills are exactly what will be needed to apply for PIP. 

I am really pleased that you were successful in applying for your son and that it is so helpful to him, and no doubt by consequence you too, it always excellent to read good news stories  

As an aside I understand the politics behind benefits, I don’t agree with it but I know exactly why it works as it does. 

E

I get the lowest figure of PIP, but that;s not 'cos i'm autistic, it's other mobility problems. I've been thinking of re-applying  'cos i'm much worse, but last time i had to have a phone 'interview' which lasred an hour. Because of my autism, i don't think i could go through that again. Last time i got the CAB to help fill the form. I've just been register sight impaired and the RNIB have offered to help. I know i should go but, it's the thought of that hour long telephone call which is making me reluctant. It's all wrong to be treated this way.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test 

have you tried this online tool? It will give you an idea of what you may be awarded if anything. I only score 4 points but they’re for physical issues 

You can find all the advice you need I would say online. Detailed advice about all the categories and how autism issues apply to each category. It’s only when you really start digging into each category that it becomes so apparent what is relevant. It is intimidating, time consuming and difficult. However if you think you really do qualify - having done your research to check you really might - I’d say at least try. It’s quite a hostile system though - and we found just engaging with it is stressful and takes its toll. However they want to put people off by making it difficult - so we mustn’t let them do that to us - we have to at least try and get the support we need and are entitled to. Having the PIP helps my son to be able to have some of the things he really needs, and that make his life better. It really makes a difference to his quality of life. I am very aware that he was very fortunate to be awarded pip - so many people who should get it don’t. The system is pretty awful. 

I’m trying to but only attempted to start the process today, it was futile though as both DWP and Citz Adv will only communicate with me via phone calls which I find hugely difficult and triggering, often I completely refuse to talk to anyone on the phone and never answer withheld numbers and rarely numbers my contacts lists I doesn’t  recognise. My partner made further attempts on my behalf too later but that was also futile. We will try again maybe tomorrow. 

My son was awarded PIP. It’s certainly not easy to go through the process. If you apply do lots of research - there’s plenty of advice online. I think it’s a very high bar for autistic people to be awarded it - but it is possible. Good luck!

yes I get it but mainly because of head injury and spinal injuries, not autism.

It is worth having a specialist person to help you fill the form out as it is very difficult to get!