Turned down PIP for Autism

courtneycampbell09

Hi everyone, basically I was turned down PIP (for the second time) a couple of weeks ago. I was diagnosed with Autism when I was 18 and I’m now 21 - I also have anxiety on top of this as well. Not surprised that I’ve been rejected again as in 2018 I scored 0 points, took it to tribunal and was awarded the enhanced rate daily living. 

We asked for the assessor’s report which was taken over the phone in January due to Covid. It is full of SO many lies! It says that I can cook perfectly well (I can’t multitask and my awareness of danger is really bad so complete lie). Also says I remember to take my medication on time when I need to set reminders on my phone, and says I need absolutely no help with socialising. You’d think due to the fact that I am autistic that I would score points easily here but the report keeps reiterating that I engaged with the assessment really well, asked lots of questions etc...I barely spoke because I was so anxious and my mum did all the talking for me. The assessor was oh so understanding over the phone, agreeing with everything my mum said, but the report really doesn’t reflect this. 

In the Mobility component we said I can’t take unfamiliar journeys without someone with me because I get too anxious and overwhelmed with sensory stuff, also the fact that when I take the train to uni I sit alone, wear my earphones and buy my ticket through an app so I don’t need to speak to anyone. But no - apparently I can “go to a shop and get everything I need by myself” which is utter rubbish. I never go to a shop on my own and we even said this during the assessment. 

She basically used the fact that I drive and go to university against me in every point. I barely drive anywhere on my own because I get too overwhelmed and I get one-to-one support at uni. But the report says that I attend university without any help. Absolute lies!

Why do assessors keep getting away with this? We’ve applied for MR with a really lengthy letter telling them we believed I deserved enhanced Daily Living and standard Mobility, but are expecting to go to tribunal again like last time...

janer1967

Hi and welcome 

Pip isnt about diagnosis or condition but about h8w it affects you 

The assessor doesnt put what you say but it is rather their opinion of what you can do baser on what was said 

They would make the assumption that as you travel on train go to uni and interact in education and can drive that you can do these things no matter how you do them 

I'm not saying I agree it's just how they look at it . Being able to do something with adjustments in place is very different to not being able to do something full stop 

I hope your mr is more successful and you get the award you deserve 

courtneycampbell09

Yeah the thing is we set out in full how it affects me. We sent so much supporting evidence including my diagnosis reports, a needs assessment from uni and 3 or 4 letters. 

We backed up all this evidence saying that I find it really hard to socialise with others, can’t manage my money (I’m quite impulsive, I’ve bought myself a new phone and iPad just in the past few months lol). But the assessor omitted so much from the report like we described a time I got involved in a car incident - wind blew my door into another car and I completely lost it when the owner of other car approached me

I just don’t understand why Tribunal are happy to give me the points whilst the assessors continually lie. My academic ability has nothing to do with my ability to cook, eat etc...in fact it’s very common for us on the spectrum to excel in education whilst struggling with basic care tasks. We also mentioned how I always come home from uni completely wrecked to the point I literally can’t interact with anyone. But they’re clearly not informed enough in Autism to see these difficulties. 

Just really annoys me as the fact of probably having to go to Tribunal again makes me even more anxious...

janer1967

I totally understand your frustration and the anxiety surrounding a claim and appeal 

You have done it b4 and can do it again to get an award 

Tribunal success is a lot higher then at mr stage 

Let us know how you get on 

courtneycampbell09

Thank you . So frustrating as we know what I deserve and we’re being truthful about everything. But hopefully like before, tribunal will be successful