PIP Review (1034) with new diagnosis of Autism

(note : I tried to post this yesterday but it seems it didn't work for some reason)

Hello All,

I've received a 1043 PIP Review form today (15th July) dated the 1st July, due back on 1st August - which now gives me just over a fortnight to fill it in, get papers, and send it in to them *rolleyes*. Received on a Saturday morning, as usual, just in time to ruin the whole weekend.

At first glance the form appears far less complex but in reality it isn't - I could just write 'No change' in almost every box, but I've had enough dealings with DWP to realise that that alone would probably be unwise. So I'll try to cram in as much of the same information as I can again, from the older and longer form.

Anyway, the actual issue is this - since my last award one of my MH conditions has been reassessed and re-diagnosed as an autistic disorder. Technically, it isn't a 'new' condition, but it is a new and more thorough diagnosis of an existing one. I'm already on the top rate award of both Care and Mobility (I suffer from a number of different conditions), so informing them shouldn't have any bearing on increasing my PIP award. I suppose it could help, in that as clearly stated on my diagnostic papers, autism is not 'curable', and so it might increase the length of the award if not the amount.

I know from experience however that it is usually unwise to provide DWP with any excuse to look at your award afresh. I have relatively little to gain financially by informing them of the autism diagnosis, but everything to lose. On the other hand, if I leave informing them until the next proper review, they'll probably want to know why I didn't tell them now when the diagnosis paperwork is dated October 2022.

I also have to consider that even a relatively simple telephone interview causes anxiety and sensory overload, and can take literally weeks for me to recover from.

Either way it is a huge risk, not only financially but for my mental health, so any advice/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

PS : The form also specifically states that I should NOT send in a supporting letter from my GP, or any "information you've sent us before" ? Is this a new development?