Disability allowence for 57 yr old with aspergers / autism ??

xxdeebeexx

A dear friend of mine has recently been diagnosed as having aspergers/ autism. She is 57, well educated but stumbles from one job to another and is more often out of work than in. She has recently lost another job and is now desperately short of money. Her housing benefit does not cover her rent and she has no savings to fall back on.

We now realise that the 'personal relationship' problems that she encounters in her work place is, infact, part of the aspergers. It is these problems that cause her to lose her job more often than not.

When I spoke with the expert who diagnosed the condition he said that she should receive some support. She has got herself into a panic.... what can I do to help? Who can I contact and what extra money is she entitled to?

TIA

Dx

GlasweJen

Disabled Living Allowance is awarded for care and mobility needs. If your friend needs help to get dressed/cook a meal/get in and out of bed/with bathing then she may be entitled to some care component. If she needs supervised constantly or help with being out and about (not driving) then she may get some mobility but to be honest it sounds like a long shot if she has managed up until now.

I have no idea about Employment Support Allowance though but hopefully someone will be along with information on that for you.

di3004

xxdeebeexx wrote: »

A dear friend of mine has recently been diagnosed as having aspergers/ autism. She is 57, well educated but stumbles from one job to another and is more often out of work than in. She has recently lost another job and is now desperately short of money. Her housing benefit does not cover her rent and she has no savings to fall back on.

We now realise that the 'personal relationship' problems that she encounters in her work place is, infact, part of the aspergers. It is these problems that cause her to lose her job more often than not.

When I spoke with the expert who diagnosed the condition he said that she should receive some support. She has got herself into a panic.... what can I do to help? Who can I contact and what extra money is she entitled to?

TIA

Dx

Hi there

I know of others being diagnosed at around this age and have managed to get by without help and support from others, yet they are all different and if you feel your friend needs help and support then yes hun I would tell your friend to try for this.

My son is 13, in fact its his 14th birthday this coming Thursday, and has Aspergers syndrome, and an anxiety disorder.
He gets high rate care and low rate mobility due to the personal care he receives more so than others of his same age group without this disability.

I still have to bath, dress him and tend to all his personal needs and watching all the time, he is also vulnerable.
This is ongoing day and night as he has sleeping disorders as well, right now as hubby lost his job unfortunately just before christmas I am thankful for his help right now, but wouldn't want to change my son for the world.;)

But hun, like I said if you think your mate should be receiving this, she should try for this.

Here below is another link where this is also helped by ex benefit advisers who may have retired now and various welfare people, also ex members of tribunals who are also a great help:
www.yourable.com

This site is wonderful as well, its just another option if you want to check it out, or even register for free, ask any question and someone will happily answer this for you.;)

Good luck and also check out Asperger support groups online.

Di

xxdeebeexx

GlasweJen wrote: »

Disabled Living Allowance is awarded for care and mobility needs. If your friend needs help to get dressed/cook a meal/get in and out of bed/with bathing then she may be entitled to some care component. If she needs supervised constantly or help with being out and about (not driving) then she may get some mobility but to be honest it sounds like a long shot if she has managed up until now.

I have no idea about Employment Support Allowance though but hopefully someone will be along with information on that for you.

Thank you for your reply. You have just shown me how little I know !!
She is certainly capable of looking after herself so the disability living allowance isn't the way forward...........
Her condition makes it really difficult for her to get and keep a job...
She has got herself into a financial downward spiral and can't seem to get
out of it

Thanks again

Dx

covlass

I dont know much about this but they be able to help your friend in finding a job which is more suitable for her.
http://www.remploy.co.uk/

duchy

Autistic isn't a noun -it's a neurological condition.
If anyone described my son as "an" autistic I'd be VERY offended -to put it mildly !
DLA is payable to people who NEED extra help-regardless of if it is actually supplied or not. As an example your friend may have difficulties with public transport -as the uncertainty of service and the proximity of other passengers causes her problems that non ASD people don't have-this may mean she qualifies for the mobility element of DLA.
She needs good and knowledgable help and I'd suggest MIND as a good first port of call for advice.
Disabled people don't deserve to "get by" when there is help available to them to make life a little more "normal" (whatever THAT is ! )
"Help" may not mean money-it may mean support from within the community to learn stratagies to help her cope with the difficulties her ASD causes her. Her GP and the Autistic society should also be on the list to ask for advice and support. Services vary vastly from area to area and adult ASD is under-resourced in many regions so it's difficult to give a clear idea of what to expect in your locality.

Swan_2

hi xxdeebeexx,
what a worrying situation

just because your friend has managed/stumbled along until now, doesn't mean she hasn't needed/doesn't need help, she simply hasn't been getting any

if she could be doing with help that an 'average' person doesn't, to do or achieve day to day things at all/more easily/more comfortably, then put in a DLA application, she has nothing to lose

if she goes down this avenue, she'd be best to get a Social Worker/Charity Worker or someone else experienced in filling in the forms to do it for her, they're long & complicated & can be quite daunting to tackle by yourself

there are some very good suggestions & contacts in this thread, hopefully your friend will get the help she needs & deserves

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Deebee,

Your friend has obviously done will to cope until her diagnosis.
DLA isn't just about the physical aspects of caring for somebody.
When claiming for DLA there is the term of 'Bodily Functions'. The need to verbally support an autistic person with communication, falls under this term.

As your friend is likely to have significant problems with social interaction, and understanding the unwritten social clues and etiquettes will be why she has problems within the work place environment.

Try and read up a little, as a friend, you will notice behaviours and characteristics that are down to the diagnosis, not just part of a quirky or eccentric personality.

A really good book, secondhand ones are readily available, is called:-
Asperger's Syndrome A Guide For Parents and Professionals by Tony Attwood.
You will read thru it, and things will start falling into place.

The organisation dial is really good, here is their link to find your local branch. They are run by disabled for disabled.
http://dialuk.info/findadial/index.asp

As another poster mention, Mind is a good organisation, and they could help with support.
http://www.mind.org.uk

Also a good website is benefits now. The have a copy of the Decision Makers Guide, and Disability Handbook. All really useful background information.
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk

I have 2 children, 1 boy 1 girl, both with Asperger's. My son wasn't diagnosed till he was 14, and very much lumped with the diagnosis and sent off.
Your friend must have mixed feelings about this news, it can be quite devastating for some people, for others, it's like a piece in a jigsaw and it completes the puzzle.

Don't worry about speaking to several organisations, each once will have different idea's and could all input something.

Best of luck,

Munchie

Ames

I just want to echo what Munchie said, DLA isn't just about physical care needs, I get the highest rate for my mental care needs.

xxdeebeexx

duchy wrote: »

Autistic isn't a noun -it's a neurological condition.
If anyone described my son as "an" autistic I'd be VERY offended -to put it mildly !

Thank you.... I certainly didn't mean to offend and have now changed the title.

Dx

jenhug

Contact the national autistic society, they will give help for starters, and yes claim DLA, she obviously needs supprt for things like fanancial matters etc, its worth a go.
I am amazed she has reached this age before diagnosis, my daughter was diagnosed at 8, I find your friends case fascinating, (sorry!!)