Don't Write Me Off Launches

The National Autistic Society (NAS) has accused the Government and Jobcentre Plus of writing off people with autism and condemning them to a life of financial hardship and even poverty. A new report by the charity reveals a third of people with the condition currently live without a job and without benefits. Many are forced to rely on family and friends for the basic means to live, some for over a decade.

Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS said; “People with autism say their experiences of the employment and benefits system are marred by anxiety, confusion, delays and discrimination. It is absolutely vital they are able to access the right help and services if seeking employment and are supported financially when they cannot work. It is scandalous, therefore, that thousands of people with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition are being consigned to poverty by a complex and counter-productive benefits system. We will keep campaigning until the Government’s “no-one written off” pledge is a reality for people with autism.”

The Don’t write me off report reveals that the majority of the over 300,000 working age adults with autism in the UK want to work but are being held back by a woeful lack of understanding of autism amongst employment and benefits advisors at Jobcentre Plus and a dearth of specialist employment services. Only 15%* are in fulltime paid employment.

Research for the Don’t write me off report found:
• Almost 80% of people with autism on Incapacity Benefit want to work.
• Over a third said their Disability Employment Advisor’s knowledge of autism was “very bad” or “bad”.
• Half of people with autism have spent time with neither a job nor benefits with over three quarters of those forced to rely on family and friends as a result.
• Over 82% needed some kind of help to apply for benefits, but few were made aware of their right to an advocate. In the worst cases parents were actively blocked from helping.

The report also exposes the common difficulties experienced by people with autism applying for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which replaced Incapacity Benefit. It is clear the system is not working for them with many experiencing a multitude of problems including getting a sick note, filling in complex forms, poor medical assessments, being misdirected to the wrong benefits and not even being asked about their disability. As a result people with autism often experience inadequate job-seeking support, unnecessary and distressing delays in payment or are being denied essential benefits altogether. This is a growing and urgent issue as the Government plans to move thousands of existing Incapacity Benefit claimants onto ESA in the next few years.

Paula Wharmby, an adult with autism, said of her experience applying for ESA; “I applied thinking I would be able to get the extra support I need to look for work due to my disability but found the process completely inflexible and intimidating. As long as they can tick a box they don’t care. It was clear nobody knew anything about autism and a report from my psychiatrist on my difficulties was completely ignored. I was denied the benefit and had to go to a tribunal to have the decision overturned. The system just isn’t working for people like me.”

The NAS is calling for a national strategy from government to transform access to employment for people with autism across the UK. The charity is also campaigning for a number of measures to make the employment and benefits system fair for people with autism including scrapping the need for a sick note and a better understanding of autism across all Jobcentre Plus staff, who determine eligibility for benefits or provide employment support. This should include the introduction of Autism Co-ordinators to work with frontline staff, local employers and employment support services.

The Don’t Write Me Off campaign launches in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 13th October, 2009. For more information about the campaign and to download copies of the Don’t write me off report, visit www.autism.org.uk/dontwritemeoff.

ENDS