A young man who has overcome severe challenges including autism, epilepsy and dyspraxia to be living independently and working full time says his experience of applying for benefits makes him fear for thousands of others.

The 24-year-old, who does not wish to be named or pictured, had to battle the Department for Work and Pensions all the way to an independent tribunal earlier this year in a claim for Personal Independence Payment.

He had been in receipt of Disability Living Allowance since childhood because of the range and severity of his conditions, but he says he faced real barriers when changing over to PIP, despite support from his mother, a professional psychotherapist, and retired solicitor Mike Bowden.

At the first assessment, a two-hour phone call with the DWP’s contractors, he was assessed as not eligible for the payments, and that was repeated at the first appeal stage, known as mandatory reconsideration.

When he took the matter to an independent tribunal, things changed. At the last minute, the DWP changed its assessment and said he was eligible for the payments and backdated them to his original claim date.

He said: “It worked out for me, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a former solicitor on speed dial.

“It was very distressing; it was one of the major factors that led me to feeling suicidal. I think the system is designed to make it difficult for people. I think people without support will give up.

“There is a generation of people whose talents are going to waste because they can’t get the support they need.”

The young man’s mother added: “I’ve been supporting him since he was born and I’m very experienced in the system, but without extra support, I might well have given up."

Mr Bowden said: “When people with support go to an independent tribunal their success rate is 90 per cent. It seems there’s something wrong at the initial stages of the whole process.”

The DWP pointed out in the last 10 years more than 5 million assessments have been made and only eight per cent have been subject to an appeal, with four per cent of the total overturned.

A spokesperson said: “We support millions of people with disabilities every year and in the majority of PIP cases we make the right decision.

“All our disability assessors are qualified health professionals, and we are investing in their skills so that everyone has a positive experience when claiming PIP.”

If you have experienced difficulties claiming PIP or Universal Credit, contact the Swindon Advertiser on 01793 501806.