ADHD, New Medication & DLA/PIP

[adridude]

I was just wondering how things would affect me now I've been moved on a more powerful medication after 21 years of treatment.

 

Although the last medication I was on 'Concerta XL' was a controlled substance, it wasn't as strictly controlled as the new one I'm on 'Dexadrine'.

 

The latter is literally an amphetamine which really makes it hard for me to travel abroad as 99% of countries won't let me travel to them whilst medicated.

 

Despite this new 'wonder medication' making my working life ALOT better, how would this affect my DLA/PIP claim?

 

Reason I ask is because I hear lots of shocking things about ATOS and I'm concerned that when I get called in for a review that they'll see that I appear OK whilst still living with ADHD on such meds is a BIG turnoff for employers. Furthermore I still exhibit symptoms of ADHD sich as extremely bad memory, disorganisation etc....

 

Because of these symptoms, I literally run my entire life out of:

 

-4 diaries

-Pager/Reminder System

-Myriad of postit notes around the house

-Myriad of lists, todo lists and 'where things go or have been put' lists.

 

My concern is that ATOS will do a superficial examination and not know the 'behind the scenes' life of ADHD. Furthermore, seeing as there's only 5 departments in the NHS qualified to deal with Adult ADHD, would ATOS even be allowed to asses me accurately not being one of these NICE accredited specialists?

 

Cheers,

 

A

[reallymadwoman]

ATOS can and will assess anyone since your diagnosis is generally irrelevant to them and they also seem to consider that having any specialist knowledge (or even any knowledge) of a particular condition is unnecessary. All they are interested in is if the effects of your condition limit what you can do.

 

When/if you are assessed then if you can provide evidence that you meet the criteria then you should be OK.

[adridude]

So despite having a social disorder is of no concern to them? that 5 minute spat is the decider of my life?

 

Sounds like I should go in there unmedicated and show them what a lost rag really comprises of :o/

[Nystagmite]

That doesn't matter. You have to prove that having a disability means you can't work. They don't care about the diagnosis.

[adridude]

NO it's not about not being able to 'not work'. I do work, and worn several companies. The reason I went into self employment is because it allowed me to retreat back home and stay there. Agoraphobia isn't fun!

 

Futhermore, I've provided SBC (Swale Borough Council) as well as all other relevant parties all my paperwork, including all of my personal medical paperwork.

 

I personally would have thought that the DWP wouldn't have enough in-house expertise to deal with foreign (Dutch) and local papers outlining my issue, however to date, they have.

 

DO I need DLA? Yes.. I pay shedloads each week in Postit, notes, reminder services (for cooking etc..), people around me to help to keep me in order. Fine I plan this on my own, but I was only taught to plan my diaries my an ADHD coach. From there on, It's not the easiest.

 

Furthermore, what qualifies ATOS to asses me when they haven't got the relevant knowledge? It's taken 12 years (about there) to find a specialist int he area; referred by overseas, yet certified by the NHS as an official department!

 

The problem is I can't work with people. My horrid sense of Xenophobia doesn't allow me (often, not all the time) to meet with people. And when I do, q9 times out of 10 it ends up in something I can't handle. TO the point wher eI NEED to leave the scene.

 

Why did I start my own companies? Because I can do them remotely.

 

1) The IT company, where I can do most support over the phone and via the internet

2) A techincal design company where I can design electronic components, circuit boards etc.. and mail them off to the relevant party

 

How can they expect me to go, outside of my home, to meet a stranger to get quizzed about my personsal life?

 

Quite frankly... IF this was forced on me, I'd PAY to have someone go there and shoot the individual which forced this.

 

I WILL NTO leave my houe, come hell or high water, and I will not meet some strange whatever-he or she is.

[adridude]

IN short, its taken years to build bond swith my therapists/practitioners and anyone else who INSISTS they get medical records will probably be set fire to

[Nystagmite]

They would have the relevant knowledge. Be thankful that unlike me, you don't have some rare (there are less than 200 of us in the uk with it) medical disorder for which the DWP haven't heard of and the information out there is limited.

[liverbird37]

Have you had a chance to look at the new PIP descriptors to see if/how they would apply to you ? It's gonna be a tough time for many of us.

 

I can barely walk due to a severe right leg problem, and should really be using a wheelchair, but due to problems caused by my Ankylosing Spondylitis I'm not able too, and have to manage with crutches. Because of this, I doubt I'll qualify for high rate mobility when I'm reassessed. It seems so unfair to many.

[adridude]

Yeah I have, and I worked up to about 25 points :-/ THe pure fact that I have to pay someone to come in once a week to go through all of my paperwork logically for me alone smacked up about 15 points.