Hi, I'm fergi! My son masks his ASD. How can I approach his PIP tribunal?

fergi

My son is 45 and was diagnosed with ASD (high functioning level 1) last year. He has been masking all his life and nobody suspected anything until he was 43. I am trying to get pip for him but he has been refused and awarded zero for both categories and had the mandatory reconsideration decision yesterday, just the same zero. He manages to work 12 hours a week in a supermarket but he masks so when he gets home he is exhausted. Any advice on what to say in a tribunal appeal would be very much appreciated as I’m lost. 

Cher_Alumni

@fergi Hello there and a warm welcome to our online community, how's it going today?

I'm sorry your PIP mandatory reconsideration wasn't a success, I can imagine that felt really frustrating. Your son must have adapted over the years by using masking as a coping mechanism, which sounds exceptionally tiring. Has he had much support from your GP or another health practitioner since his diagnosis?

Importantly, when you lodge your appeal, you need to identify the grounds for appealing the DWP’s decision - 'the legal grounds' . For example, did the DWP incorrectly apply the points-based disability test? Have you identified activities and descriptors where you can evidence that your son should have scored more?

Here's where you need to focus your efforts through providing supplementary evidence - be that a couple of detailed accounts of the last time your son tried the PIP activity, including who was there, where it happened, what the activity was, what his difficulties were and how others had to assist him to complete the task reliably. Remember that unless your son can carry out an activity reliably, that is safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in reasonable time then a particular descriptor can't be satisfied.

With this, it would be advisable to get professional welfare advice from someone who can look at your sons case in more detail - you can find an organisation local to you through the Advice Local website. 

I'm sure our other members can offer more help, and please do give us a shout if there's a particular part of the process you're struggling with. Take care and good luck. 

For your info: I've amended the title of your thread and moved it to our PIP, DLA and AA category to help others see it more easily and reply.