Moved from Enhanced to Standard after 7 years

My son now in his mid 20s was awarded enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility in 2015 for period of 6 years. This was extended for approx 9 months due to coronavirus. This is for autism which is a lifelong condition. His condition has not improved. His attendant anxiety has got much worse. Points have simply disappeared for a number of daily living descriptors. He now scores 10 instead of 12 for mobility planning and following journies. He now receives Standard for both and
only for a period of two years. This seems illogical. The telephone assessment was positive and the Healthcare Practitioner said to me that she thought there was nothing adverse to worry about. So why have all these points disappeared? Are they supposed to look back at the original award as a starting point?

Sorry to hear this, for you and others including our son.

We are just completing his review and I was reading through the guidelines on autism and levels of supposed disability, links from the assessors guidance on conditions. It seems to say that depending on level, which they seem to be able to assess themselves, especially if the person is a high functioning, they are expected to become integrated into normal life and have few problems as they age. In other words although they will still have internal struggles appearing near normal and adapting means no or very little disability.

Our son has PDA and that is literally washed over altogether. This probably all fits with the usual 'unicorns and happy rainbows are coming thinking' brought about by the 2021 to 2026 National Strategy for Autistic children, young people and adults. You may be able to use this in your appeal www.gov.uk/government/publications/natio...le-into-employment-1

www.autismandneurodiversitytoolkit.org/definition

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/specialis...ism_training_for_d_2

In the above FOI the link that the DWP say they use to assess people with Autism is the NHS guide for everyone, which as we know down play everything so as not to send everyone for the emergency button.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/

So it seems that even if you have been assessed, have a lifelong condition stc. unless you can actually prove you need help you may be totally hiding your amazing employment and self management abilities away. They one day, they will emerge and you will be fine. They do annoy me.

Good luck I am not holding out much hope this time around because they had no crisis team or access to help during covid, so no evidence for us unless you include the pictures of blood, which I bloomin well intend to.

as illogical as it seems I don't think they look at past decisions often, though if you still have any of the past decision letters you may be able to use them as part of the evidence if you decision to do an MR, espeically as there hasn't been much change in your sons needs, as it will show that a different decision maker interperated things in a different way.

Best thing to do first id to phone the DWP and ask for a copy of the PA4 - this is the report that was written after the medical assesment and should shed some light on how they made their decison. Once you know how and why they made the decison it will make it easier for you to work out why they removed points and to decide what you want to do next

Hi Jan. They have NO understanding of ASC. Get copies of any previous DLA stuff/ DSA applications (if he went to university and any support he got there). Ditto college/ school/ GP records. If you give a RECORDED history they will have no claims for lack of longevity or miraculous improvement.
They DO NOT understand that you can be intelligent and have MH/ ASC/ fibro-fog etc.. .. it is beyond them. Keep fighting x