Benefits for Newly Diagnosed Aspergers?

Paul.

Hello.

For my entire life I have been suffering from anxiety, depression and social anxiety, and have been receiving Income Support with Incapacity Benefit. This means assessments which are incredibly stressful for me, and often make me very withdrawn for a long time afterwards, especially when my claim is denied and I have to appeal.

I have seen many different psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors in my life, but none of them have really diagnosed me. But my latest psychologist have just recently diagnosed me with "Aspergers Syndrome with depressive features and social anxiety". I am on 40mg of Fluoxetine a day, and am due to start therapy soon.

My question is, are there any benefits more suitable for me now I am properly diagnosed? Would DLA (or whatever it is now) apply to me? Would there be any benefit in applying for different benefits?

Thanks for your time.

Paul.

rogerblack

No benefits whatsoever require a diagnosis of aspergers.

In general, DLA (PIP now) will be the only other main benefit you can apply for, but you could have done this at any time.

Torry_Quine

Getting a diagnosis makes no difference to any benefit you can claim as they are given based on abilities and needs. Also two people can have the same diagnosis but very different needs

oldboy64

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Getting a diagnosis makes no difference to any benefit you can claim as they are given based on abilities and needs. Also two people can have the same diagnosis but very different needs

It generally depends on how the person wants to live. Accept and moan about what they can't do would open the doors to PIP.

Accept what you have and make the best of it believing that you only imagine half your problems - and you won't find any door to PIP.

letthemeatcake

Paul apply for PIP but make sure you get help to fill in the form. CAB should be able to help you with this. Also make contact with local Asperger/autism groups as they will understand the difficulties you face day-to-day, Good luck.

HB58

You should be aware that any benefit you might claim will carry the certainty of application forms and the possibility of face2face assessments.

Sensibility

have you looked at https://www.nas.org.uk ?

skintandscared_2

People with aspergers are not unable to work. Often there will be something that they excel in - usually something academic, intellectual or entrepreneurial. Just ask Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Isaac Newton plus pretty much every famous inventor/composer/artist you can think of why they didn't stay at home and claim benefits instead of creating the incredible things they did!

Sensibility

People with Asperger's syndrome can often work - very true, but having social anxiety makes attending job interviews, meeting new people, being in new environments etc. so much harder than for most other people. Local/national support groups for people with Asperger's syndrome/high-functioning autism will hopefully be helpful

aspencer6

skintandscared wrote: »

People with aspergers are not unable to work. Often there will be something that they excel in - usually something academic, intellectual or entrepreneurial. Just ask Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Isaac Newton plus pretty much every famous inventor/composer/artist you can think of why they didn't stay at home and claim benefits instead of creating the incredible things they did!

As the parent of an Autistic young woman I get sick of everyone assuming my daughter is like The Rain Man. Not everyone with autism/aspergers excel in something. The OP may well have hidden disabilities which stop them being able to function in "our" world.

skintandscared_2

aspencer6 wrote: »

As the parent of an Autistic young woman I get sick of everyone assuming my daughter is like The Rain Man. Not everyone with autism/aspergers excel in something. The OP may well have hidden disabilities which stop them being able to function in "our" world.

Then again, they may (like my OH) have gifted skills that make them exceptional in certain fields. His genius is in IT and art. I thought the "disability" benefits (PIP?) now focused on what people CAN do, not what they can't. I also am offended by the inference that people with autism or aspergers are like The Rain Man!