OT/functioning report for young adult who's just had his entire PIP removed

I think this is only going to get worse  with the govt trying to save money where it can.  I've been struck how none of the assessors I have met lately have any understanding of ASD.  I mentioned to this phone one that my son did not go out drinking with mates in pubs and clubs whilst in uni, and the guy laughed with disbelief.  Then when I was discussing the anxiety caused by the overload of bureaucratic admin, he asked why I didn't take my son to the GP for meds for that.  And finally he has interpreted my mention of him using uber to get to distant parts of town because he can't easily figure out the transport systems (you'd have thought that was an obvious sign of need), he's reported that on the rejection form as something my son "opts" to do which shows he doesn't need support!!!! lol.

Anyway NAS helpline has put me on to its expert database, think I'll approach them before I rely on local govt...

Thanks all.

Here in Northern Ireland, they have ditched Citizens' Advice Bureaux in most towns. Most benefits applicants here tend to contact Politicians for Welfare support- which makes my blood boil! The DUP and Sinn Fein get their support by filling out benefits forms. The fox is guarding the henhouse.

I graduated in 2001 - Undergraduate- and 2006 - Postgraduate - but still got a standard daily-living award. Doesn't come near meeting my needs. I have busted so many guts trying to find work; for little reward. Yet those who milk the system can get a new Shogun with the Motobility award.

Apologies for the rant, but my experience with PIP assessments in Northern Ireland is negative. I only got my award as Advice NI's Benefits' Advisor from Magherafelt appealed.

wow thank you this was so helpful. Yes I know the problem with exploitation at work and pushing you down but at the end of the day with no pip they are going to simply push him to work in the lowest grade of job on pain of losing universal credit. He is then likely to have difficulties with the transport, hours, and as you say mental health problems can arise from treatment at work.  I think it was no accident that the day after we got the letter about pip, the universal credit people have contacted trying to get him to complete some online tasks.  I am about to look those up now.

Meantime I don't know whether it's wise to use the local authority.  They too are determined to minimise people's needs due to needing to cut down on the provision of their own resources.  It is a bit of a catch 22.  We never had the benefit of a statement or ECHP and just used privately paid independent experts when we wanted to trigger resources.  For example the disabled students allowance that he had at uni.  That was gained with the use of a private ed psych report in the first instance.

Maybe I will have to try the LA if I can't find a suitable adult independent expert, but I'm not giving up on that just yet!

All the best with your job search.  These are difficult times. What area do you want to work in?

I am in the same postilion as your son, i have had assessment over the phone which i know is going to work against me, the problem isn't always the one who carried out the assessment, its the decision maker at the department of work and pensions lack of understanding of developmental disorders and the negative interpretation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders & International classification of diseases which seems to be open to interpretation by many and used and evidence that work against individuals with autism, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mental health disorders.

but saying that your son has managed to complete and attend university which is honestly amazing but it ins't a reasonable justification on denying your son personal independent payments and i would highly recommend you contact you local authority for a needs assessment which may back up your claim to personal independent payments. Doing anything private holds a risk of the local authority denying you access to support and intervention unless it has gone through social services and the National Health Service they may not accept them as evidence of their being a genuine need. But it depends of you local authority, personally my local authority has done this to me and a few other individuals in the same or similar situation to me and we have been stuck in limbo for over three years know. social services should be able to sign post or bring organisations that can help you successfully claim personal independent payments and other support measure to assist you son, it could be as simple as help with filling out job applications and taking them to interviews.

Just some employment advice as twenty four year old individual with both autism and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder highly recommend your son avoids employment websites such as indeed, they are not the place to find long term employment and employers where there is high staff turn over is extremely high as these places will perform legal but cruel employment tactics such as unfairly extend trial periods to manage you out. I also recommend you that your son doesn't make the same destructive pattern i have done over the last four years and take first job available for reasons i have suggested because he will be back to square one in a matter of weeks or months with chronic mental health issues as a result. It should be said that any employment opportunity despite his qualification will result in the job center pushing him to low quality work and zero hour contracted work or work environments that are not suitable such as meat production, livestock farming and hospitality which i highly recommend avoiding personally as the men in these professions are dangerously arrogant and it leads to individuals such as me and your son be physically abused at work. It is also important that organisational support such as "access to work" is their from day one and if the employer seems really against them than that a red flag don't let your son take the job. those with the disability confident scheme badge can really mess around individuals and even perform false interviews to keep their badge. Volunteering is another thing i would avoid i have done it so many times with the promise of employment at the end or volunteering with employment schemes and it usually resulting in no real outcome and usually replace you with another volunteer in order to for businesses to avoid paying another wage.