Pip for my aspergers son

My 18 year old son is currently on DLA and will run out Dec next year. My question is has anybody else had success with PIP with ASD syndrome? I'm very concerned for my son he will be 19 next year and he has tried to get Xmas jobs for the last 3 years but employers are scared of his disability!! He does have social issues but once he gets comfortable with you he becomes more relaxed. A lot of people are saying these young adults will struggle to get PIP but my son needs help daily and In my book that means he's not independent which is what this is all about!! Also with the f2f I'm concerned that he will argue that he doesn't need help because he's 18 and doesn't like people he doesn't know, to know that he has a disability, he has often got very upset and broke down because he hates that his brain doesn't work properly he also has learning difficulties failed maths and got an E in English gcse. I know next Dec is a long way off but I will probably be asked to start the PiP journey June/July next year. For info he got awarded mid care and low mobility for 5 years and nothing has changed for him in some areas worse ie the cooking element as an adult now he cannot cook or prepare a meal or plan/get to a place he does not know.

Hi Joshmom and welcome to the forum. On the assumption that you are also new to the site, this FAQ should help you find your way around.

Welcome to Benefits and Work

Many areas are not yet ready to convert claimants to PIP, you will not know whether that applies to your area until nearer to the time.

PIP is still very new and we have not been able to get a feel for what type of conditions are being accepted easily and which are not (although, of course, it is not the actual condition that merits the benefit, it is the mobility and/or care needs associated with it).

PIP is assessed purely on a points system. Unlike ESA, there is no'special circumstances' clause for those who do not qualify on points. I suggest you spend some time familiarising yourself with the PIP descriptors, then you can decide which ones apply to Josh. You will have plenty of time to gather supporting evidence before the form arrives and you will be ahead of the game if it does turn out to be PIP.

PIP help for claimants

If you have any further questions please reply to this post and we will try to help. You will find it easily if youbookmark it, or make it a favourite, on your web browser now

Hi Joshmom,

I have a son with autism and am currently applying for PIP as he is on DLAbut has just turned 16 and we are in a postcode area where reapplication is necessary. i can't tell you yet of my experience but do know of a couple of young people with autism at my son's school who have been successful in securing a PIP award. As the others have said, it is very different to applying for DLA and quite daunting but the key is to illustrate clearly HOW his autism affects him personally in relation to the specific activities in the questions and I think that doing sample diaries giving specific examples will probably be very useful to back up your medical evidence from professionals. The people I know have been fortunate to get fairly clued up health professionals for their F2F assessments but have said that they were only interested in specific difficulties faced by that particular child as they relate to the questions, and were appreciative of 'typical day' diary examples and also wanted to make sure that questions in the assessment were answered consistently with what was on the form. I am using the diary templates on here and finding them very useful. Hope this helps and good luck! Will udate on the forum when I am further down the process x

Hi Stressed out Mum,

My son has a DLA award until 2017 but turns 16 next year, I am also in a pip area and was wondering when you say reapplication is necessary was his award due for renewal or did you receive forms to invite you to apply for pip before his 16 birthday?
If so how long before his birthday did you receive them? I am totally dreading it, I thought he wouldn't have to go through this process until he was almost 18.

Hi, it was because he has turned 16, we got the PIP1 request exactly a month after his birthday and the PIP2 arrived at the weekend