Claiming ESA and PIP diagnosed with Aspergers

What are ESA and PIP?

Reading with interest as I have submitted a PIP. Arguably I wouldn't need it if NHS Mental Health gave a s**t, but I can't get the care or support I need unless I pay for it.

My PIP is until January 2022, but I am awaiting an assessment over the phone.

hi and welcome I too am from NI as is Desmond79

I live in Northern Ireland was diagnosed with ASD Aspergers in 2017, and claimed PIP. I was refused, and sent the letter back for a 2nd review. Again, refused. Had to go thru appeals court, which took a year to get a date and I won my claim, and granted PIP for 3 years. It ended on 16th January 2021 and I had to reclaim, which is still awaiting a decision. We aren't under DWP here. Here it is Department For Communities that deal with benefits. Hope to get good news soon

Personally my goal is to get of the whole lot of them ( ESA and DLA ) for the distress the DWP cause for I am sure the DWP and their ' contractors ' are a cause of mental ill health.

Oh and I got diagnosed with yet another ' syndrome ' today, ( POTS) to be thinking to not bother telling 'em about that one for yet more hassle I don't need.

I am a benefits specialist for Citizens Advice and the impacts of Aspergers most definitely mean entitlement to ESA & PIP in many cases.  The difficulty in my experience is that Aspergers seems to be viewed as either a learning difficulty or a mental disorder by assessors and this can result in the need to Appeal.  Another problem is that often people with Aspergers find their own strategies for coping - often with family support.  Since counselling/talking therapies and/or medications are often inappropriate or unhelpful, there is often no "supporting evidence" to send in with the claim.  It all really depends on being specific about your difficulties that relate to each descriptor.  It is worth going into detail about how things make you feel etc.  Take your time and write a daft first etc.  This can be very stressful in itself but well worth doing.  A "dairy" detailing the difficulties you face in a day or week becomes a legal document when you sign it and is worth including, also from anyone who knows you well or who helps you on a regular basis.  Take a look at what is required on Citizens Advice public site (or others!) and seek advice if needed.  Representing a client with Aspergers at a PIP Tribunal tomorrow.  Wish us luck and best wishes to you.

I am a benefits specialist at Citizens Advice and the difficulties faced by those with Aspergers most definitely fit the descriptors for both PIP & ESA in many cases.  The main difficulty in my experience is the assessors failure to understand that Aspergers is not a learning disability nor mental disorder. Often people find their own strategies for coping (often with family support), no medication is prescribed and often counselling/therapy etc is not appropriate or helpful.  This can result in a lack of "supporting evidence" and depends on the individual with Aspergers to accurately and effectively communicate the difficulties they face.  Some people are able to do this -some can't.  I would suggest that individuals get assistance with their claim from Citizens Advice or an autism support agency.  It can be done otherwise but this may involve going to appeal.  I am attending a PIP Tribunal tomorrow with a client. Wish us luck!

I believe you can claim both.  Here is a direct quote from another forum.

Yes, you can claim ESA and PIP (and many people do) - ESA is paid to people who can't work because of their condition or impairment.  PIP is paid to people who have difficulty doing things in their daily lives because of their condition or impairment.  So people who both can't work, and also have difficulty doing daily stuff, can claim both benefits - they are for different things. 
Read more at community.scope.org.uk/.../can-you-claim-esa-as-well-as-pip

I am also thinking about applying for PIP.

I really struggle with in the workplace. Would I be eligible for ESA?

the ES50 form was sent to me this week, have until February 10th to sort it out. Keep saying this but away from this procedure this isn't the way I think about or am growing with this at all, being away from certain environments and having time and space to deal with things and gain perspective is the way, iv learned and grown so much over the past two years by not having those NT situations, and in no way does that mean it's all great anyway, it's just that I'm in a better space. 

The thing with that though is you can almost forget how things are in those environments as the focus is drawn to what works or doesn't (There is big PTSD from being in situations with no knowledge then of any different, knew nothing of this "medically" until A few years ago). An example would be going to a supermarket today, I still have to go up and down stairs, pick things up and down, not step on cracks, open the car door again and again before I am even there, and the deal with flashbacks to situations when I was on a retail job (again PTSD) and the feelings from that when I'm in a store. There's still walking up and down aisles, forwards and backwards etc, but again because there Is time and space I can deal with it as I am in my own space, then if things have been crazy I can home. 

Communicating wise it's a similar thing, I can talk, and even overtalk in some situations, but the in others shut down or become repetitive or just want to break away ifs not comfortable. Social games or falsities (a bit like this whole form procedure!) are not comfortable, office talk or not being straight or honest again can bring anxiety and discomfort. But again, now there's time and space, so I can leave the house but it's all on my terms if I do or not, and if I'm drained I have space to deal with it, if I'm up awake in bed forever turning and getting out and back in and don't sleep till 4am (regular) I don't have to get up until I wake naturally.

There are a load of things like this, it's getting the Right ones in the right way, as can almost say too much or nothing relevant at all. Guess that's the "invisible" part of it, and also why the WRAG is not what I'm looking to be a part of. Even now I take for granted that having to go the JSA once a for isn't cause anxiety as soon as id left the building Until I had to go again! Last week a,l this information caused that much buildup I was sick for a whole night!

Any thoughts on all of this would be appreciated, alothugh I live at home I deal with this on my own, mum and dad do not know and don't have to in this way (again communication!).

Thanks

My adult son who lives with me gets high rate PIP of care and mobility component because he cannot leave the house. He also receives Full support ESA. He received most of his points because of his inability to communicate with people. He also has extreme anxiety problems

This freaking out, loss of identity, vulnerable, hard to get what I want to say and express, reactionary behaviour is EXACTLY the type of thing these situations bring, and show how much time and space have allowed things to grow and to learn. Going into other wrong environment isnt the answer.

Hi

Am starting the process you guys have described (ESA) and what you mention about honesty and overanalysing have already started, which isn't where I'm looking to be personally as away from all this am looking to learn about myself, something Time and space have given me. Have almost read too much as good examples, bad examples, technicalities, processes, Work group situations have all been taken in with no filter of where I'm at right now or what relates. This is how it was in situations before my diagnosis and leaving a job situation, so can recognise but it's not where I'm looking to be. It's almost like proving you are you which is crazy.

It was very long drawn out but am now on ESA and mine is bit more complicated as won the medical tribunal for ESA with only waiting for Autism diagnosis. I received the diagnosis afterwards. But I think it helped that finally stumbled upon someone who understood rather than anything else.

As this thread is quite recent, I am also trying to claim ESA and PIP due to my aspergers as members of my family says their work friends son/daughters have it and they claim it, but I don't understand why i'm not allowed it, the government/DWP have integrated a new system where you need to get a fit-note from a doctor and get it to the DWP, they asked me recently to get one, and asked my doctor for one, they say I am fully capable of looking for work, my social skills aren't that great and I can't really work with people, have what you call an internal mental breakdown every so often which can't be seen by others so they assume that I take things well, also suffer from anxiety, GAD, depression and other stuff.

PIP is sort of in a better position, I only have to do an assessment as opposed to a fit-note which hopefully should go well, I think i'll only score points on the communication and dealing with other people components, and not the budgeting/financial side of it. As i've seen many people getting rejected even when they are more severely disabled than I am, it doesn't make me much confident.

Hi everyone thank you all for your advice sorry I haven't answered sooner. 

Hi,

Yes, I have Asperger's and claiming both ESA and PIP.  Don't worry about the PIP, I am confident you will get it.  They reject a very high percentage of first time applicants.  You can appeal and score more points in areas you think they applied too low a point for.  You can go to your local autism centre to help you with this.  I am from Glasgow and we have an organisation called the ARC (Autism Resource Centre) run by Glasgow City Council Social Work Department.  If you have a place like that in your area, go there and they will help you with your appeal form. 

To appeal for my PIP, i was fortunate that the Maggie's Centre in Glasgow helped me with my appeal form.  They scored me too low in communication as they thought as i was perfectly articulate and had the impression that I found socialising easy which is not the case and has been prevalent since pre-school too as i didnt mix with other kids at nursery and had melt-downs and had to be taken out of nursery as I did not cope.  I struggle with employment to this day and struggled at school.  Just beef those things up, about communication, socialisation, even carrying out domestic chores, that you need support with that. 

With ESA, I am on the Work Programme - you have to go to a place called Ingeus.  It is unfortunate but they put you in that if you can work in the future.  Explain you have asperger's and bring a chaperon if you wish to explain to the advisor about Asperger's.  I have quite a sympathetic advisor who does not pressurise me.  You are in no obligation to go to the group workshops.  You can say that that would overwhelm you.  You must attend the meeting with your advisor though, that is mandatory or they could sanction your ESA.

Anymore information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PS.  When awarded PIP, you will get backdated money from the date of your first claim for it.  PIP also entitles you to a disabled railcard to travel around the UK by train for a third off all fares and entitles you to bring a companion with you for the same fare.  Also with PIP, you are entitled to a concessionary bus pass.

The lovely woman who dealt with my assessment suggested I look into the possibility of PIP. The form landed last Friday.

She also indicated that forms like these are poorly set up to take into account conditions like AS, thus many people struggle to complete them accurately. For someone like me, who over-analyses every last word and is compulsively honest and forthright, I immediately worried that this would become my problem.

She directed us to a disability support group who actually have experience in helping claimants fill in forms or dealing with DWP, so... There is hope for me yet.

I'm so sorry to hear you've been refused and forced down the the route of appealing. Are there any similar services local to you who might be able to advise you or back your claim? 

Hi I get both ESA and DLA(previous to PIP).  I have done for a long time, even before the Autism diagnosis, as I need support to do things.  Read the forms well and be brutally honest.  If you can't do something without support or someone with you then tell them in your own words, giving them an idea of what you go through.

I have been on DLA for about 10 years, I was on a lifetime award. I'm dreading the new PIP form when it drops through the letter box.  It is supposed to turn up sometime now - I dread seeing the postman coming to our flat!

Hope you get wht you need.

M.