Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi am Dave am 45 and just been diagnosed with high functioning autism and I am confused what I do now! Am lost and need directions. I have been living on my own for 4 months ! Am finding it difficult to keep on top with all the bills! I recently quit my job as I couldn’t bear it any longer! I don’t have the support of my family! But I know quitting that job was the right decision for me! But now I need to claim benefits and I know nothing about it!! Or who can help me fill out forms and what to do! Does anyone know how this works!?? Any advice on where to start will be appreciated!! Thx
Hi Dave - congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the community!
The NAS has a great set of articles focused around diagnosis, including one covering how you might feel during the subsequent days / weeks / months - you might find them of interest and/or helpful:
NAS - How you might feel after a diagnosis
NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis - this includes an article on formal support, including potential benefit entitlements.
Citizen's Advice should be able to help with claiming any benefits that you may be entitled to.
For me, as for many others here, my diagnosis turned out to be much more of the start of a new journey, rather than a solution-rich conclusion.
Thank you bunny ! It’s definitely a new beginning for me! So I should go to citizen advice? And they could help someone with autism!? Then that’s what I will do !! First !! I didn’t understand what you mean a solution-rich conclusion?? before my diagnosis I was a Hgv driver earning good money ! But that job just got to much for me! As does all the jobs I’ve had! But with my autism I’d like to return as a Hgv driver but as a person with autism and not a person trying to act normal hehe! But first I need to start over !
Hi Dave. You've probably already thought of this, but would long distance lorry driving work? I'm jealous of those people not having to talk to anyone in work.