DLA to PIP for 26 year old male with autism.

My son currently has the DLA higher rate care and mobility. Our main concerns regards the mobility element. He is physically mobile but this is the problem as he has no road sense and no sense of danger. He is unable to use public transport as he does not understand timetables, cannot be in a crowded environment and any change to route or time would send him into a complete panic. When he is in a panic he tends to wave his arms about and shout, at 6 foot 5 inches this is a danger to anyone around him so he is currently driven everywhere when he can be persuaded to go out . He has know worked himself into such a state over this he is refusing to have anything to do with the PIP form and says he will not attend an assessment as he feels the whole process is making him "useless and worthless" and he is now threatening self harm. We are now worried that his PIP claim will simply be thrown out.

I am his appointee and have been advised I can fill in the form and sign it on his behalf.

He does not fully understand DLA just accepts it is there to help him and he now thinks that PIP is just a way of taking that help away.

He is currently on the higher rate DLA for care and mobility indefinitely which was reviewed in 2006 and the care component was awarded in 1994 after his diagnosis. He also has Complex Learning Difficulties and Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome.

He receives 42 hours of support from South Gloucestershire Council via Direct Payments for his care.

He is in the ESA Support Group which was awarded without him having to attend an assessment.

Sue