Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, is a non means tested benefit designed to help with the extra daily living or mobility costs incurred because of a long term health condition or disability.
This condition can be physical or mental, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is one of the most common conditions for which people successfully claim PIP in the UK.
Having a diagnosis of autism does not automatically guarantee you an award, but your claim will be assessed entirely on how your condition affects your ability to carry out specific daily tasks and move around.
To receive an award, you must demonstrate that your difficulties are significant and have lasted for three months and are expected to continue for at least a further nine months.
The assessment focuses on function, which means the details you provide must clearly link your autism to the specific difficulties you experience every day.
Is Autism a disability that qualifies for PIP?
Yes, Autism Spectrum Disorder is recognised as a long term health condition that can qualify a person for PIP.
The condition is in fact the second most common main disabling condition for PIP claimants.
PIP is available to people aged sixteen and over who have not yet reached State Pension age.
Eligibility is not based on your specific medical diagnosis but on how your condition makes it difficult for you to do certain everyday tasks, known as the daily living activities, or if you have difficulty getting around, which covers the mobility activities.
You can get PIP even if you are currently working, and your savings or other income do not affect the amount you receive.
What are the two components of the PIP assessment?
The PIP assessment is divided into two separate components, and you may qualify for one or both of them.
The first is the daily living component, which looks at your ability to manage everyday tasks.
The second is the mobility component, which looks at your ability to get around.
Each component is assessed independently using a points system, meaning you can be awarded a different rate for each part.
The enhanced rate of the mobility component is particularly important as it can grant access to the Motability Scheme, which helps with leasing a car.
How is PIP scored using the points system?
The DWP awards PIP based on the total number of points you score for each component.
Each of the daily living and mobility activities has a list of statements called descriptors, and each descriptor is worth a specific number of points, from zero up to eight or twelve.
The points you score for each activity are added together to reach a total for that component.
To get the standard rate of either component, you need to score between eight and eleven points.
To get the enhanced rate, you need to score twelve points or more.
It is vital that you choose the descriptor that applies to you on most days and explain your difficulties in detail.
Which daily living activities are most relevant for Autism claims?
There are ten daily living activities, but Autistic people often score points in particular areas related to their communication, social, and executive function difficulties.
The most relevant activities often include:
- Engaging with other people face to face: Difficulties with social interaction, understanding social cues, or overwhelming psychological distress during social contact can score points here.
- Communicating verbally: Difficulties with expressing or understanding complex verbal information, which may require support, can be a factor.
- Preparing food: Issues with executive functions like planning, sequencing, or concentration, or needing supervision to stay safe, can be relevant.
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols, and words: Difficulties with processing information or taking things literally may count.
- Making budgeting decisions: Difficulties with planning and prioritising money matters.
How can I score points for the mobility component with Autism?
The mobility component has two activities: planning and following journeys, and moving around.
For Autistic people, the most likely area to score points is planning and following journeys.
This activity assesses whether you can undertake a journey without help due to non physical difficulties, such as those related to a mental health condition or cognitive impairment.
For example, if leaving your home would cause you overwhelming psychological distress, or if difficulties with planning, processing information, or coping with unfamiliar places mean you need assistance or supervision to plan and follow a route, you may be able to score points for this activity.
What is meant by doing an activity ‘reliably’?
The DWP must assess whether you can carry out an activity reliably.
An activity is only considered reliable if you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly as often as is reasonably required, and in a reasonable time period.
A reasonable time period is defined as taking no more than twice as long as a person without your condition would take.
If your autism means that an activity takes you too long, or if it causes you severe anxiety or exhaustion that prevents you from repeating the activity later, you should describe this in your claim, as it demonstrates that you cannot do the activity reliably.
What evidence should I include with my PIP application?
You should include any relevant evidence that clearly supports the difficulties you describe.
This evidence can include a copy of your autism diagnosis report, letters or reports from health professionals such as your GP, psychiatrist, or occupational therapist, and any care plans or statements from support workers.
It is also highly recommended that you keep a detailed daily living diary for a few weeks before applying, recording specific examples of when and how your autism affects the activities.
This provides the DWP with detailed, real life evidence of your functional limitations.
