I've been getting DLA for a few years, since a while after being diagnosed at age 40. I get the lowest rate of the care component, but since I've been unemployed considerably more often than I've been employed, that £20 a week made a difference. Curiously, my identical twin who lives in Scotland (I'm in England, he's also diagnosed) gets the higher rate of one component, the middle rate of the other (I forget which way round), a bus pass and another for his 'carer' (wife).
I finally got the call to go see ATOS for a PIP assessment. I already knew there was no 'lower' rate, so I expect to lose that £20. I got some help from CAB on the application form a few weeks ago, and attended the assessment today.
Yes, I can spell 'world' backwards, and count backwards in sevens from 100, and move all my joints. That seemed to be about the extent of my 'assessment'.
She did ask some questions about my day to day life, which I answered honestly as best I could: no, I wasn't diagnosed til 40 and yes, I went to a 'normal' school. It was hell, and my life before 40 was mostly homelessness and exploitation, but I got the impression I was talking myself out of what little I get... No, I have no friends...so I must not need any help, eh? Yes, on good days I can cook and dress myself...and on bad days I do neither.
I think I shoud have asked for the 'reasonable adjustment' of having sight of the questions before the assessment, so I could better present meaningful responses.
I did try to explain at the end that it's all very well having basic physical and intellectual skills, but employers still look at me with undisguised contempt or disgust on the rare occasions I get an interview - and without the DLA I'd struggle to survive. She said, as she had at the start, that she didn't make the decision. I didn't say "No, you're just obeying orders..."
