PIP Assessment PA3

AAmd2025

Had a failed assessment in December 2025. I'm Autistic with mental health of Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Depression the Assessor said I was loud and I was making her feel uncomfortable. She gave me no choice but to leave I have complained to Maximus and it is now at Stage 2. So a PA3 took place points awarded for preparing food.0

Restrictions Reported Reports needing prompting and assistance due to symptoms of rigid behavior and sensory restriction.

Recommendations and Evidence used.

The evidence in the PIP2 showing while he reports restrictions due to sensory restrictions with touch he has overcome this by making adjustments. I haven't cooked anything on over 20 years. There is no evidence to suggest any cognitive, sensory or learning impairments. In May 2023 I was diagnosed with Autism using ADOS -2. There is no evidence to suggest lack of motivation and his mental health medication has remained unchanged since 17/02/2021. There is evidence to suggest he is unable to cope with change or be unable to manage in an emergency situation. Therefore on the balance of probability it is reasonable to suggest he should able to reliably prepare and cook a meal independently. There is no mention that I was sick leave for over 2 yrs with mental health. Including the date of 17/02/2021.

Reported Restrictions not reported.

Although prompting and supervision have been reported and have been considered these have been ruled out. Given the evidence from PIP2 showing there is no evidence to suggest any cognitive, sensory and learning impairments. There is no evidence to suggest lack of motivation. No evidence to suggest sick leave from work. His mental health medication has been unchanged since 17/02/2021 and he is driving on the MODS which require a complex set of cognitive abilities including general attention concentration and memory. While PIP2 reports restrictions including sensory sensitivity which include hypersensitive which includes taste and unable tolerate strong smells of the cooking of ingredients causing nausea then reacting, skips meals, food tastes are limited which further limits food choices these are not in scope for this activity.

My question is has my Autism been ruled out. Has my mental health been ruled out in that the medication hasn't potentially changed but I was and did take sickleave. How can they suggest that if you can drive a car then you can cook even though I have sensory issues that are heavily linked to Autism. I would appreciate any advice as I am having to go through a second assessment because the PA3 had many flaws and represents nothing about me and my needs and wants.

Lauren29

It seems that a few things are happening here. I quite often see that a Health Professional carrying out the assessment uses the fact that someone's medication has been unchanged over a long period of time as evidence that their mental health can't be that bad. They don't seem to ask why the medication is unchanged and if the medication is working. Again if someone drives Health Professionals tend to assume that if you can drive a car, you must be able to plan, concentrate, follow instructions etc. Again they don't seem to explore this any further with the person being assessed. I assume that you wrote on the PIP form that you were on sick leave for two years but this appears to have been some years ago. The Health Professional was probably looking for evidence of more recent periods of sickness. It seems as if your Autism has been acknowledged but that some of the symptoms relate to eating and drinking not preparing food.

AAmd2025

Thank you Lauren29 for your comment. What the HPs don't understand is that Sensory issues are a key factor with my Autism. Preparing food, clothing, washing and bathing and sensory overload. Between 65% to 90 percent of Autistic people have some sort of sensory issue. Unfortunately the PA3 was needed because due to the Assessor saying I was loud, frustrated and making her feel uncomfortable. It was recently added I was agitated. Unfortunately Autism and Sensory Overload can lead to a louder voice tone but it's not in an aggressive way.

Lauren29

I agree that unfortunately most HPs don't understand Autism and a range of other conditions. There was some suggestions a couple of years ago that HPs should be specialists in the claimant’s condition. This never became policy In large part because it would increase costs.