Fuming at how the Jobcentre have just treated me

System

IAmWales wrote: »

Or you could think about whether you really need one.

You work, you can use the phone, you can complete paperwork and understand letters. I'm not clear why it is that you need one?

I'm not sure either, as you said I can manage my own wellbeing, look after myself by cooking meals on a regular basis, take buses independently etc. I must have been an appointee since a very young age, and I don't think I need one anymore.

However, my mum's a single parent and obviously struggles, so may be that's why.

Out of interest will I get in to any trouble for what I had done yesterday by getting a letter sent home reminding us what an appointee is and their responsibilities from JCP?

Pollycat

himynameisaaron wrote: »

I'm not sure either, as you said I can manage my own wellbeing, look after myself by cooking meals on a regular basis, take buses independently etc. I must have been an appointee since a very young age, and I don't think I need one anymore.

Out of interest will I get in to any trouble for what I had done yesterday by getting a letter sent home reminding us what an appointee is and their responsibilities from JCP?

Aaron
Below is what gov.uk says about appointees:

You can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who can’t manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.

Did this apply to you at some stage in the past?
Did someone come to see you about an assessment for the need for an appointee to receive and manage your benefits on your behalf?

Is your appointee managing your money appropriately?

If you feel you are capable of receiving and managing your own benefits, I guess you could contact the section that pays your benefits and tell them that.
I think they'll need to visit you to check that that is the case.

Will your appointee agree that you are capable?

dan99

What would the process be if the client wanted to look after their own finances but they had a Corporate Appointeeship i.e. Social Services and they are unwilling to relinquish it. When the client rings the DWP they will not speak to client and say you need to go through your appointee?

TELLIT01

dan99 wrote: »

What would the process be if the client wanted to look after their own finances but they had a Corporate Appointeeship i.e. Social Services and they are unwilling to relinquish it. When the client rings the DWP they will not speak to client and say you need to go through your appointee?

Interesting question, but not one to which I have an answer. Social services are paid to act as appointee so they have a vested interest in retaining it. Maybe try speaking to Citizens Advice?

IAmWales

himynameisaaron wrote: »

I'm not sure either, as you said I can manage my own wellbeing, look after myself by cooking meals on a regular basis, take buses independently etc. I must have been an appointee since a very young age, and I don't think I need one anymore.

However, my mum's a single parent and obviously struggles, so may be that's why.

Out of interest will I get in to any trouble for what I had done yesterday by getting a letter sent home reminding us what an appointee is and their responsibilities from JCP?

Is your mum claiming Carers Allowance for you? Do you have access to your benefit payments?

Sounds like you need to have a chat with her and explain you'd like to officially handle your own affairs from now on.

You won't get in trouble for calling yourself. They may write to your appointee if they have reason for concern, either that the appointee is neglecting their duties or that they query whether you need one now. If they do it doesn't need to be a bad thing, it could be a way to open up the conversation with your mum.

It's really positive that you're doing so well.

IAmWales

dan99 wrote: »

What would the process be if the client wanted to look after their own finances but they had a Corporate Appointeeship i.e. Social Services and they are unwilling to relinquish it. When the client rings the DWP they will not speak to client and say you need to go through your appointee?

In the case of dispute the DWP would assess the capacity of the claimant to handle their own affairs in the same way as at the beginning of the claim. If they won't speak to the claimant on the phone (they should in this scenario) then the claimant can request this by letter.

One of the reasons that the DWP must act on such a call is that there could be a safeguarding or abuse issue. This needs to be a consideration even in the case of a corporate appointee.

ceecee1

if you were entitled to DLA when you were under 16 then your mum would have had to be your appointee as you were a child.
When you reached 16 your mum should have been asked if you were still unable to deal with your own affairs.
It doesn't make any sense that you are signing on for work - your appointee should be doing that for you
I would suggest that you need to write to the DWP and tell them that you are capable of dealing with your own affairs now that you are 'of age'

System

IAmWales wrote: »

Is your mum claiming Carers Allowance for you? Do you have access to your benefit payments?

Sounds like you need to have a chat with her and explain you'd like to officially handle your own affairs from now on.

You won't get in trouble for calling yourself. They may write to your appointee if they have reason for concern, either that the appointee is neglecting their duties or that they query whether you need one now. If they do it doesn't need to be a bad thing, it could be a way to open up the conversation with your mum.

It's really positive that you're doing so well.

Thank you. The advisor said nothing a better a letter having to be sent home, so I should be okay. In answer to your first question though; my JSA payments go directly in to my bank account and my PIP goes in to her Post Office which she then hands over to me.

Not sure whether my mum has Carers Allowance.

Geoff1963

Autism is a communication difficulty ; so if you are communicating well, it suggests you don't have a disability, and hence don't need an appointee.

Many years ago, I was on holiday in Germany with some friends, and needed a dry-cleaners. One of my friends spoke German, so translated the question, so I could ask for directions in the village.
I arrived at the first shop, I think a greengrocer's, and said in near-perfect German, "I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for the dry-cleaning shop."
Unfortunately, my friend had forgotten to teach me the translations of all the possible answers, so my helpful German shopkeeper had no idea why I was suddenly struggling.

I'd take the Jobcentre man's comments as a compliment. Autism isn't something you can "cure", but with a lot of hard work and training, you can do a good enough imitation of a Neuro-Typical, that few people will know. Think of a convincing actor ; it is easy to forget that Tom Holland can't really walk up walls with his hands.

If you can walk like a duck, and quack like a duck ; many people will assume you are a duck. Unfortunately, they might then expect you to also dive and fly like a duck.

[Deleted User]

I have ASD.., not severely but it does affect my ability to stay calm and rational in verbal communications at times of stress.

I am actually getting a support worker now to help me with appointments/phone calls etc. Sometimes I can be ok, but I've even had problems in my GP practice. Most people don't understand what stresses a person with ASD out and can see the stress reaction as aggressive (I can start to repeat myself like a stuck record). Being able to write logically and rationally on here (where you have time to think and analyse how you should react to things, come back to it later) is no indication of how you can cope with 'right now reactions' needed in verbal communications. I had a surveyor come round to look at the repairs needed to a newly allocated council property. The plaster is falling off the walls meaning I can't decorate without removing the plaster and making my asthma a lot worse. He said 'the council don't do decorating' and I just became so emotional and lost I didn't even report half the repairs that needed doing to him. I was too busy trying not to scream at him which was a bit of an over reaction and completely unhelpful to the situation. If I had had an appointee there, they would have been calmer and could have said what I couldn't.

I can cope very very well with most financial stuff, manage my bank account etc.., but if I need to call benefits/housing/other official people I am looking forward to my support worker taking all that over as I mess up so often. There are questions I just don't think to ask because I am focusing on one thing, that I should do. And do think of after I have put the phone down. I can ask a question, the person answers and I think that's it.., when if I asked another question I might get a different, more fuller answer. This has caused me a few problems.

Having an appointee is not just strictly dealing with financial matters, but allowing them to make phone calls on your behalf as well.