Anyone know anything about disability benefits?

Bloodheart

Currently unemployed and undergoing diagnosis for ASD.

I've had several people suggest that I go onto disability - a disabled friend and CAB advisor amongst others - but I'm not sure if I can get disability because I don't have an official diagnosis yet.

Obviously there is a disability or health issue involved, it prevents me from working certain jobs, applying for work in certain ways and causes a lot of problems within interviews, as well as potential for discrimination during interviews and trouble with the job centre - for example sending me to apply for jobs I can't do and threatening to take away my JSA if I don't apply.

I've been told if I went onto disability I could get extra support, I'd get less trouble with the job centre, I could get a little extra money, guaranteed job interviews and employers get subsidized so may be more willing to take me on. My boyfriend was against the idea as he says if I go on disability I'd be telling potential employers I'm not employable, and I really want/need to work so I'm worried if it's true.

I'm fairly certain the system has changed recently so I don't know how the new system works, and I don't know if I'd qualify for disability if I don't have a diagnosis - can someone shed some light on this for me?

Jowo_2

Disability Living Allowance is about having care needs and/or mobility needs and not about employability of the claimant. You don't need a diagnosis, only to be able to demonstrate that you need help looking after yourself or supervision to keep you safe or if you can't walk or find it very hard to walk, or you need help getting around.


Here's a few helpful links

http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/benefits-and-community-care/disability-living-allowance.aspx
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/financialsupport/dg_10011731

If you have care needs


To get the care component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to either:

• need help with things such as washing, dressing, eating, getting to and using the toilet, or communicating your needs
• need supervision to avoid you putting yourself or others in substantial danger
• need someone with you when you are on dialysis
• be unable to prepare a cooked main meal for yourself (if you had the ingredients), if you are aged 16 or over

ESA is for those who cannot work because of their illness or disability. This is the one that is changing as older claims were made under Incapacity Benefit but now there is an assessment to see what the person is capable of in terms of types of employment or if they can't work at all.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/index.htm

ash4becks

ask to see the disabilty adviser at the job center was a few years ago i sore them while on jsa but were really nice and stoped me going on them dam silly courses, instead you had to go to a center once a week and they would support you filling out forms and looking for sutible jobs, i have dyslexia i just had to show them the assesment i had for that, but sure that a letter stating that you under assesment should be enough, or the other option might be esa x

speedfreek1000

As Jowo has explained it all depends on how your ASD is effecting you to which benefits you could apply for?

Your best bet is to seek advice from a charity or organisation which specialises in ASD.

There's plenty on the web and they also have forums (like this) where they discuss the real world issues you may face including benefits.

sox8369

Have a read through the Disability and Dosh section on here - there are many comments about your condition and DLA claims etc.

But the posters above are right - you do not need a diagnosis - but you must meet the criteria whether you have a diagnosis or not.

Best of Luck.

Indie_Kid

Bloodheart wrote: »

for example sending me to apply for jobs I can't do and threatening to take away my JSA if I don't apply.

They can't do this. Why would you apply for a job when you know full well that you can't do it? Do they know that you have a disability that prevents you from doing certain jobs?

sunnyone

Bloodheart wrote: »

Currently unemployed and undergoing diagnosis for ASD.

I've had several people suggest that I go onto disability - a disabled friend and CAB advisor amongst others - but I'm not sure if I can get disability because I don't have an official diagnosis yet.

Obviously there is a disability or health issue involved, it prevents me from working certain jobs, applying for work in certain ways and causes a lot of problems within interviews, as well as potential for discrimination during interviews and trouble with the job centre - for example sending me to apply for jobs I can't do and threatening to take away my JSA if I don't apply.

I've been told if I went onto disability I could get extra support, I'd get less trouble with the job centre, I could get a little extra money, guaranteed job interviews and employers get subsidized so may be more willing to take me on. My boyfriend was against the idea as he says if I go on disability I'd be telling potential employers I'm not employable, and I really want/need to work so I'm worried if it's true.

I'm fairly certain the system has changed recently so I don't know how the new system works, and I don't know if I'd qualify for disability if I don't have a diagnosis - can someone shed some light on this for me?

You posted in May that you HAD ASD!