PIP appeal

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I'm really scared as have to go to an appeal for Personal Independence Payments.
I went for an assessment and the assessor said that I didn't have enough wrong with me because my clothes were clean and my hair was tidy. As women don't look as if there's as much wring with them, I'm scared I will just carry on in life without any support. Now I have to go for an appeal in the court, and have to explain why I think I need Personal Independence Payments, and part of having Asperger's is having communication problems, so not sure if I will explain properly.
Could anybody on here provide me with information that will help please?

Can you ask for another assessment from a different evaluator? In the US you can usually request a second assessment if you don't agree with the first assessment. If you can get a second assessment, try to find someone who knows about autism in women.

If you can't get a second opinion, google autism in women and print out all the information about how difficult it is for a woman to get a diagnosis due to different expression, and the marked ability to mask. Some people here can probably provide you with links to such articles. Bring those articles with you to court and be prepared to speak about them.

I have been in court many times without benefit of an attorney and sometimes I am the advocate for someone else. I don't know about where you live, but I have found that speaking with clear sentences, being organized, being specific (giving specific examples, specific diagnoses,) and having documents that back up my assertions, are helpful and usually accepted. Be courteous. If you can't speak, bring your testimony is written form.

Problems started with the sick and vulnerable when they started using USA companies who treat people as liars trying to catch them out

Sorry you are going through this.

I'm on ESA and my doctor told me that I should be claiming PIP too but I keep putting it off because I don't know where to find an advocate. I've contacted various organisations including mind, and they just tell me that they don't provide them and to try elsewhere... It's like going round in circles!

I find it difficult to speak up for myself too, especially if the person I'm dealing with has a malignant personality, or I've been put on the spot; I can't think on my feet and just crumble.

Unfortunately many people, even so called professionals, have a narrow view of those who have either mental health or developmental issues. If they can't fit you into a box or you present yourself atypically, they can't deal with it. Your assessor must have been an imbecile if they think that being clean and tidy means that there isn't much wrong with you. Everyone presents themselves differently; what's on the inside doesn't always reflect what is on the outside. However bad I'm feeling, if I have to be around people, I always wear clean, tidy clothes. It's just the way I am. The counsellors and therapists I've seen over the years have never ceased to amaze me with their ignorance regarding my appearance and demeanour. I've been told I'm too attractive to be depressed, accused of being a malingerer because I was wearing nice shoes, chastised for having neat nails, and ripped to shreds because I'm quite well spoken. It's disheartening, and puts you off seeking help.

Anyway, you could try The autistic society or maybe your GP to see if they can put you in contact with a support/social worker, although I doubt they'd know much about autism. I hope you are able to find someone who can help you because there is a chance it could count against you if you are on your own - it's another stick they can beat you with. Failing that, blazingstar has given some good advice regarding the printouts and written statements.