PIP for ADHD, Anxiety & Depression

I applied for PIP after being diagnosed with burnout and signed off work last December. I applied for anxiety, depression, ADHD & autism, though at the time I was awaiting formal diagnosis of AuDHD and added this to my claim form.

Awarded zero at assessment and mandatory reconsideration, and have been waiting for hearing to be listed since April this year.

Since then, I've been diagnosed with ADHD, and medicated, and still awaiting autism assessment. I can barely function when I don't take my medication.

I fear that I messed up my whole application because I did it alone, and at 42, and only just being diagnosed with a condition that I've had all my life, I didn't actually realise at the time just how bad things were. You just get on with stuff and go through life feeling like a failure.

The assessor made masses of assumptions, and didn't take much notice of what little I did say in the assessment, but that's a whole different issue.

Can I claw this back? Things like forgetting to eat, burning myself when I use the hob, or even grill to make toast, regularly burning my food, hours to do the simplest of tasks...I didn't realise that was what my life was like at the time and answered the questions asked if me in very much 'yes' and 'no' ways.

My condition has worsened since being diagnosed and I'm experiencing skill regression, so failing with the most basic of tasks and struggling to look after my basic needs. I live alone, so have no choice but to do many to the things a disabled person applying for PIP is expect to not be able to do, which also went against me in the assessment.

What do I do? I feel like if I explain any of this, I'm 'too clever' as the assessor wrote that in aware of my condition so I feel like knowing about how things affect me goes against me.

I'm so tired of the whole thing and I'm finding it very difficult to cope. I get ESA (limited capability for work) and Universal Credit. The ESA assessor asked similar questions and came to a totally different conclusion to the PIP assessor.

I've just signed up here, but now I just feel like I've done everything wrong and I'm going to be back to square one when it is finally listed.

I really don't know what to do.

I just want to send you support katieE, I got my Autism Diagnosis at 66 after a two-and-a-half year wait. Then this led to my also getting an ADHD diagnosis. My PIP assessor very much rubbished my organising/OCD-type etc issues, I burn pans like you, etc. I got my award on the basis of the physical issues I have too. But it sounds to me as though your autism /ADHD challenges are more sever than mine, so please do not despair. The Appeal panel are at least not DWP staff.
It might be a good idea to make some diary type notes from now on, that you can take to the Tribunal if DWP don't cave in before it goes to a hearing.
Also read up on the stuff in the Guides here about Tribunal hearings.
Do keep us posted, we are definitely "invisibly disabled" and have to shout louder to be acknowledged. Having 'O' and 'A' levels does NOT mean one is 'fine'!
Hyperlexia is actually a symptom of autism in some of us, ram this down anyone's throat that says because you are aware of your problems and well able to describe them, that they are not problems!
Best wishes,
Denby