DLA and Asperger's Syndrome

peachespeaches

We have just learned that it is likely my daughter has Asperger's. She will be professionally assessed shortly. She is 21 and currently on jobseekers, although she has absolutely zero chance of work at the moment due to her lack of social skills. She has never worked. Will she be able to claim DLA or Incapacity? Have any other Asperger's adults had success with DLA?

robpw2

yes my ex flatmate suffered from aspergers and he got dla (it may be different areas have different requriements thought) because when he lived in staffs he got free travel but in manchester he doesnt but still gets dla

Francis1980

Would her aspergers put her at risk if she goes out alone? e.g. would she attract a lot of unwanted attention etc. Or perhaps she can go alone on familiar routes but needs full support to go to unfamiliar places? If so DLA mobility lower rate may be possible. DLA higher mobility is only for people who have physical problems getting around.

If she can't prepare a meal and/or needs help during the day/night with care and staying safe she may be eligible for the care component.

nb check if your local council has a supported employment project. If there is then she will get a lot of support finding, applying, attending interviews and settling into work.

I have aspergers myself so if you have any more Qs I'd be happy to try to answer them.

Taffoire

Francis1980 wrote: »

Would her aspergers put her at risk if she goes out alone? e.g. would she attract a lot of unwanted attention etc. Or perhaps she can go alone on familiar routes but needs full support to go to unfamiliar places? If so DLA mobility lower rate may be possible. DLA higher mobility is only for people who have physical problems getting around.

If she can't prepare a meal and/or needs help during the day/night with care and staying safe she may be eligible for the care component.

nb check if your local council has a supported employment project. If there is then she will get a lot of support finding, applying, attending interviews and settling into work.

I have aspergers myself so if you have any more Qs I'd be happy to try to answer them.

very helpful post Francis, thank you

also peaches, just a point of note for you, get the application pack asap, you don't have to be officially diagnosed to receive DLA (little different, my son is 6, because of the waiting list for the Autism clinic, he still hasn't had his case heard by the diagnosis board but we still get middle rate care & low rate mobility).

This site has some fabulous info on helping you fill out the form (DLA for adults on mental health grounds), as it takes you through the form step by step.

Also on a personal note, I'm a benefit advisor for Comm 1st and if you do need any help, I'd be happy to, as Aspergers is very close to my heart

Lou xx

peachespeaches

Taffoire, thank you very much. I have seen the BHAS site before. I get lower rate care for me (back injury and fibromyalgia) and it was a struggle to get that. It looks like its been updated so I will have another look.

If someone could give me some specific examples of how to fill out the form relating to Asperger's I would be grateful. PM me if necessary. I will send for the form, but I might have a better idea of what the professionals are going to back us up for in terms of benefits, when I see the specialists report. I think you have something like 6 weeks to complete it though, so as you say, its worth getting the form. Its the fact that although she can do some things alone, she needs me to watch over her with the other things. For instance, she can get the bus to the jobcentre and sign on alone as she has done it so many times. I took her at first, but now she does it herself. She also has one friend which she will visit alone. Otherwise, shopping, hospital, dentist, optician, bank etc I need to go with her. I need to keep a check on her finances too as she has got into bother with that also. As far as meals are concerned, she eats a very restricted range of foods and likes to eat at different times to us. So I stock up on microwave omelettes and chicken fried rice (her favourites) so she can do that herself. She couldnt cook a proper meal from scratch, but then again she wouldnt want to! I do all her washing etc too.

peachespeaches

Just had a quick look at the BHAS site. I wondered if she ought to be on incapacity rather than jobseekers. She has never worked though. Is it better for me to go to my doctor and get a doctor's note for incapacity benefit or wait until she sees a psychologist or psychiatrist please?

She wouldnt previously go for a doctors note because she thought the Jobcentre would stop her jobseekers straight away and then take ages to sort the incap. This happened to her friend and he was without money for a while. She relies on her jobseekers to make her life a little bit more interesting.

mummytofour

I thinK for incapacity you need to of paid stamps..
What about IS?

tanith

If your daughter has never worked she wouldn't be able to get IB as you need to of paid 2yrs of National Insurance Contributions to qualify... AFAIK

jessica37uk

HI ALL.
Please go and see your jobcentre disability rights advisor. I think you will find that if your daughter has never worked and is never likely to she can claim what is called incapacity benefit in youth.
as she is disabled and under 25 she in special needs terms is still considered a minor or young adult.
my son is 17 and claims DLA middle rate care and lower rate mobility and he also gets incapacity benefit in youth. it is the same as incapacity benefit but you dont need to have contributed to the system to get it.
my son doesnt even have to provide a sick note now. as they know he has a lifelong condition.
you have to have not been able to work for at least six months. you need a sick note from your GP for 6 months and one backdated for six months then you should pretty much get paid within 4 weeks.

good luck.

nm8553

jessica37uk wrote: »

HI ALL.
Please go and see your jobcentre disability rights advisor. I think you will find that if your daughter has never worked and is never likely to she can claim what is called incapacity benefit in youth.
as she is disabled and under 25 she in special needs terms is still considered a minor or young adult.
my son is 17 and claims DLA middle rate care and lower rate mobility and he also gets incapacity benefit in youth. it is the same as incapacity benefit but you dont need to have contributed to the system to get it.
my son doesnt even have to provide a sick note now. as they know he has a lifelong condition.
you have to have not been able to work for at least six months. you need a sick note from your GP for 6 months and one backdated for six months then you should pretty much get paid within 4 weeks.

good luck.

This is excellant advice. I work with young people with AS and have been successful in every application for DLA (usually low level care and mobility because of problems around journey planning but occasionally mid level care in particular for younger applicants) where there is a formal diagnosis and around 70% where there is no formal diagnosis but we have been able to demonstrate significant social and communication difficulties. Use your CAB to help with the forms. IB in youth is a bit more tricky and a good disability employment advisor at the jobcentre is worth their weight in gold to open doors for you. Good luck indeed. If you are as persistant as you must have been to get a diagnosis at this age you will undoubtedly succeed.