Autism

jackiedflz

My son is 16 has autism and has not been awarded pip scored 0 points also scored 0 points for the reconsideration so we are appealing the trouble is he doesnt communicate so how is he going to answer questions when asked at the tribuneral the most he says is yes and no .

pllfan88

Hello @jackiedflz, this happened to my son last year when he turned 16. We had to appeal and we won. Went from 0 to 37 points. My son is autistic and barley communicates with his family let a lone a stranger. 

I went to the appeal without my son as he also suffers server anxiety and agoraphobia but I am his appointee.

I wasn't sure before I went if they would allow it if he wasn't there, but they were very understanding and had already made the decision before I walked in. 

Keep fighting, and good luck 

Yadnad

pllfan88 said:

Hello @jackiedflz, this happened to my son last year when he turned 16. We had to appeal and we won. Went from 0 to 37 points. My son is autistic and barley communicates with his family let a lone a stranger. 

I went to the appeal without my son as he also suffers server anxiety and agoraphobia but I am his appointee.

I wasn't sure before I went if they would allow it if he wasn't there, but they were very understanding and had already made the decision before I walked in. 

Keep fighting, and good luck 

As his appointee you have the right to speak for him.

In fact in the case of my wife's attendance allowance appeal, she was too ill to get to the hearing and I went in her place. I didn't have any legal power to speak on her behalf but the Tribunal had no issues with that situation.

poppy123456

jackiedflz said:

My son is 16 has autism and has not been awarded pip scored 0 points also scored 0 points for the reconsideration so we are appealing the trouble is he doesnt communicate so how is he going to answer questions when asked at the tribuneral the most he says is yes and no .

Are you his appointee? If so then as others have said, you'll be able to speak on his behalf.

PIPQuestions

Similar situation. Struggle with communication past 1 or 2 words. Scored 0 points. In MR ATM waiting for response. Not diagnosed with autism but gp cpn and psychiatrists all suspected it. 

Dunno what I'm gonna do for tribunal aswell as I struggle with communication and suffer from severe social anxiety. 

Good luck with yours . Hope you get it , I think people like us are prime targets for assessors lying as we struggle to communicate properly .

jackiedflz

Yes I'm his appointee but my representive told me they will want to ask him the questions and I will be able to get my say when they have finished and defiantly targets and I think the doctor shoukd be one that specialises in autism.

Sam_Scope

@Jack_W can you help?

Jack_W

Hi @jackiedflz,

As the representative, you should almost certainly be the one who speaks on your son's behalf and any medical evidence submitted before tribunal will help to explain he is not able to answer questions apart from those which are closed and direct in approach.

It may be worth contacting the tribunals' team responsible for your case to make reasonable adjustments in the questioning of your son if he is required to stand,  and for that to be made appropriate for his needs.

Take care,
Jack

gitaparmar

hi @jackiedflz. I also have the same problem. my daugher is 19 and has autism and will only answer the yes or no whcih is what she did in the pip assessemnt. I am an appointee for my daughter. and have just appled for tribunal.  I did call the helpline at the tribunal and the lady i spoke to was very nice and she did say as i am an appointee my daughter she would not need to attend and she did say it males no difference to the outcome.  However I have also posted on here for the same advise from someone who has maybe been to a hearing as an appointee.