Aspergers syndrome/depression are we entitled to anything?

I don't know much about benefits but if I was you I would definately consider applying for Disability Living Allowance for your child (that would open up things like carers allowance for Steve).

(on a side note have you ever looked at the forums that are available for people with Aspergers and their families such as http://www.asd-forum.org.uk You both would be more than welcome and they have excellent advise and support for everything including benefit claims)

You'll have a very hard time getting DLA for your partner, as adults with Asperger's syndrome who are able to live independently (i.e. no extra care required and no mobility problems) rarely get DLA. You're in a tougher situation because your partner has not been diagnosed. All is not lost, though, as he could possibly get DLA for his depression (depending on whether he needs care or not). Getting a diagnosis for AS when you're an adult is very hard, as they need siblings/parents who are at least 5 years older than you who knew you when you were growing up to help with the diagnosis.

Now for some good news. You probably won't be able to claim for your partner, but you can definitely claim DLA for your son. My son has AS and he gets high rate care and low rate mobility DLA (amounts to about £75 a week), plus I get the disability element of CTC due to my son geting high rate care component DLA. I also have AS, but I get nothing - this is due to me being able to live independently (without the need for a carer). If you get the DLA, you can then get Steve to apply for CA (carer's allowance - £45 a week). Every little helps. On WTC/CTC, you can then apply to the Family Fund for help with things like day trips and holidays for you and your child. They even help with things like dishwashers if it helps the family as a whole. You won't get help with the rent or council tax, as you are working full time.

Have you contacted your local carer support worker? Ours is attached to the doctors surgery, so if you give your doctors surgery a ring they may be able to help. The following website is good:

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Also as mentioned above:

http://www.familyfundtrust.org.uk/

Our son has AS an we claim DLA, Carer's allowance, Family fund. There are also extra premiums on tax credits for a child with a disability and they add an allowance when calculating housing and council tax benefits.

It is also advisable to seek help when completing the DLA forms as these are difficult forms to get right straight off. A professional involved in your son's diagnosis may be able to advise you on this.

Also the following site is excellent for help with regards to everything on the autistic spectrum:

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/

Good Luck

black-saturn wrote:

Gary Numan has aspergers syndrome and I dont think he's done too badly for himself.

They say John Cleese has it. He hasn't done too badly, either. Bill Gates is another suspected Aspie.


O/T: BS, drop me a PM about the National Geographic thing.

I think anyone applying for DLA on Aspergers or other Autistic syndrome disorders needs a help either from the guides to claiming DLA at
BHAS Mental health DLA guide for adults
BHAS Mental health DLA guide for children
or the more updated versions at
Benefitsand work Downloadable guides to claiming welfare benefits

The National Autistic Society - Claiming Disability Living Allowance
However as others have suggested talking either online or face to face with others who have been through the process will be helpful.

In order to function properly brains need a constant supply of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids. This is needed from conception onwards as the main structural substance in the brain is DHA and omega 3 EFA also needed is EPA the another EFA. The best source of Omega 3's is marine oily fish or fish oils. The Durham Schools Trial showed how this improved the ability of most children with this condition to make better progress in school and be less disruptive. The cheapest high strength omega supplement I know is [url=http://www.zipvit.co.ukZIPVIT OMEGA JUICE[/url] if those concerned tool 2tsps of this each day they would know that their brains were getting sufficient for maintainance, repair and renewal. As brains are for the most part fully developed by age 6 it is unlikely that they will be anything other than autistic, but being able to think quicker and more clearly and be better able to cope with stress should make them easier to be with.
However in order for the omega3 oils to pass through the walls of the brain cells which require it there needs to be Vitamin D present to facilitate this passage with an ion exchange. This time of year particularly vitamin d levels are low as vit d3is made in our skin given exposure to uvb light from the sun. So until March when you can go outside and midday and exposure as much skin as is decent for 20 minutes or so you will need cholecalciferol tablets Healthy Direct via quidco will give you a bit of discount eventually and voucher code EP781 will give you a further £2 off £10 if you order in January. An alternative would be to use a sunbed/tan studio twice a week as each20 minute visit should generate about 12000iu and keep your levels topped up otherwise 4000iu of tablets each day until you can get plenty of outside exposure will suffice.

It is thought that vitamin d deficiency during pregnancy gives explains some of the seasonal difference in the number of autistic spectrum disorder people born in May rather than November. Because levels of vitamin d are low in winter the levels of omega decline and this impacts adversly on brain development. This is of course only part of the story but it is one area which is cheap and easy to address. Irrespective of whether supplementation with omega and vit d3cholecalciferol improve the aspergers it will improve many other areas of health and will not be money down the drain.