Cognitive impairment

I read in an earlier post that DWP normally associate cognitive impairment with learning difficulties or brain damage but struggle seeing that MH or tiredness is related to this.

My partner has Aspergers and Directional Dyselxia and this makes it really difficult to plan a new route or follow a route because of the level of cognitive impairment in both. Do the DWP accept this and have an understanding of this?

There is not much in his diagnostic report to support this. I think you said in an earlier post that if we do not have medical evidence then we need to be really detailed in our responses to the descriptors?

Thank you Gordon so much for this feedback. I have done a lot of work on directional dyslexia for my partner and this is going well.

I have noted the recent Upper Tribunals decision which goes in our favour if you have mental health problems and are autistic as well...which is excellent.

I seem to still have great difficulty understanding travelling by bus even though I have read previous posts that you have given members on this site.

Does it mean that if you have difficulties with travelling on buses due to being on the autism spectrum because if there was a delay or the bus was late or the bus stopped was moved, etc. and you had difficulties with reading bus timetables and that created a situation where my partner cannot continue the journey on a familiar route, would that count as not being able to travel by bus to a familiar destination?. Apparently he would not board a bus to go to an unfamiliar destination and route.

Very grateful again for clarity on this Gordon.

Also another quickie...you mentioned that anxiety causes cognitive impairment but that we would need medical evidence for this on a previous post. Who would be able to provide this medical evidence. A Clinical Psychologist? Support worker? Both Autism specialists or would a GP need to put that in his letter?

Thank you Gordon for your reply.

I'm not suggesting that we will do this, but as we are still trailblazers in the hope that DWP and DM "wake up"......its best then to say that you do not use public transport at all to get an award for standard or enhanced mobility?

Andy cannot use public transport at all for unfamiliar journeys owing to his severe cognitive impairment. He would not attempt this as he would get lost.

However, for familiar journeys he has problems that people with mh prooblems and autisitic individuals encounter but usually can get to his destination. The only time would be if there was a minor change, he would go into 'meltdown' and not be able to continue with his journey or anything else that day.

So within the legally defined descriptors could he be awarded standard mobility as long as I put in lots of details about his cognitive impairment via Directional Dyslexia and of course put in details the latest caselaw has stated regarding his distress and autism?

Could he do this on first attempt or are they still only awarding points/awards at Tribunal?

Sorry to keep labouring the point. PIP is as B&W say unclear and complicated.

So I am just removing the cobwebs! Thanking you in advance Gordon for your help and advice

Sally