Do I have hope for Direct Payments?

[Steel Maiden]

I applied for Direct Payments to get more support, as I am unable to leave the house alone due to autism sh*ttiness.

Does anyone know about them? Do they take months to process? Is there much chance of me getting them if I am in the "high functioning" category of autism?

My care coordinator and support workers all agree that I am not really "high functioning" but the diagnoses are either "low functioning" or "high functioning" on the form (tick boxes).

Most of you will already know why I am not really "high functioning" except for my high IQ, I won't bore you with all the details.

I just want to know: do I have hope? Or will I be spending 80% of the summer trapped in this house?

I'm the sort of person that needs to be active not just mentally but also physically. I love long walks. I like going to the outdoor gym with my support worker.

I've had a migraine for four days now.

[Bear]

Hey Oly.
I get direct payments to employ a personal assistant. If you have any questions I'll do my best to help, although I have mine for physical disabilities.
I don't doubt you'll receive something, just be prepared for it not being a lot. For example in my case, I need care 24 hours a day and my social worker ticked the highest level of need on almost all sections of the form. I however only get enough money to pay fora carer 30 hours a week.
It's pretty disgusting because if I didn't have informal care I'd be costing the council a ridiculous amount.
Anyway what I'm saying is they should give you at least something but don't expect a lot, unfortunately!
If you have any questions please ask x

[Steel Maiden]

^ thanks.

I just need a support worker that can take me out of the house when needed. Or if I need to go to A&E, I cannot go in an ambulance unless I'm dying (last time I went in an ambulance I had severe sensory overload and a meltdown), so I need someone to take me. I have several physical and mental illnesses so A&E is well known to me. I recently had a severe hemiplegic migraine which I had to wait all night with until my support worker could visit the next day to take me to A&E. Not ideal.

Will support / care workers be trained in specific areas? I just need one for autism. I've had carers in supported housing before but they were sh*t because they had zero training in autism.

I cannot cross roads safely on my own due neurological / autism issues (I did mention, in the form, being hit by cars before and causing accidents due to my difficulties in processing visual information) and I cannot go to places alone as I get meltdowns. I cannot use public transport alone either.

Also I wrote down on the form that I have issues with challenging behaviour and have many times now lashed out at / hit my support worker when I've been really distressed. I emphasised that I have NO intent to hurt anyone and the challenging behaviour is totally involuntary. Will that be held against me?

[Bear]

Hi again.
Re the support workers being trained, you're in effect the support workers' employer. It's completely up to you to choose who you have and you can interview and advertise for whoever suits your needs. You could even have a friend or family member, so if you already have someone who knows you well, maybe that could work?

I'm pretty sure that your meltdowns wouldn't havea negative effect on the application. I had to say that I have challenging behaviour when psychotic. I think it may actually work in your favour as it shows how severe your disability is.

Hope that helps some,
Lani

[cough cough]

I think it really depends on who your social worker is and the budget your local social services department has in place, I know here they are cutting back on packages and leaving many of the people with learning disabilities and ASD with little support hours now through budget cuts.

Saying that while I was in hospital I managed to get my community support hours increased from 15 to 21 hour a week and because I live in supported living I get access to 55 shared hours a week shared between 3 other lads I share with. I have mild LD and Schizoaffective BTW and the lads in the house all are on the autistic spectrum, high functioning, between 8 to 20 hours each a week.

With the support staff here you get your good ones and bad ones but mostly are okay, in supported living you have a high staff turnaround because of the pay and shitty hours, it a 24/7 complex so staff here all the time.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks for the information.

I just want to be able to leave the house. I want to be able to go to my GP when I am ill or post a parcel or buy milk if I run out between online shopping deliveries etc.

I also want to have a life this summer. I have to take vitamin D supplements because I don't get enough sunlight on myself.

[Kelly-Louise]

I get direct payments and I have used to employ a personal assent I have mental health issues and learning problems I get 6 hours a week hoping to 8 hours a week soon which is quite good so I think you will be able to get something with your needs good luck

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks.