Semi-urgent, a question for consultant Lynn. I live in the Netherlands and due to monetary problems, I want to apply for a Wajong. However, I need a recent diagnosis for that. I'm pro-dx, but I was diagnosed 10 years ago, and haven't been re-evaluated since. I'll need a new diagnosis, but due to those monetary problems, I don't have the money for a complete rediagnosis in a professional center (Triversum Hoofddorp). Do you know if there are any other options to get a 'new' diagnosis?
Getting financial aid in the new Wajong is extremely difficult. So if you are applying for the first time I recommend applying for council benefits as well, in case your application gets rejected.
In the new Wajong system you can only get financial aid if you are completely and permanently unfit for work or education. Before you apply, you need to try collect as much evidence of this as possible. When you apply, you will receive an invitation for evaluation by one of their advisors. I recommend you take someone with you to this appointment, it can be a carer or someone who knows you well, and can help answer questions as well as provide emotional support.
You don't need to have a recent diagnosis to do this. It's actually helpful that you were diagnosed in childhood, because the first thing they will ask for, is proof that your disability affected you before you reached adulthood. But they will need to asses your current situation, so the more evidence relevant to your current situation you provide, the more chance you have they approve of your application. If you have the paperwork of your diagnosis, it can be helpful to outline some of the difficulties you were having at the time of diagnosis, to help you explain how they still affect your life now.
Other than the paperwork from your diagnosis, I recommend seeing a psychiatrist. You can try to find one with experience in working with people on the autistic spectrum, and most will be covered by your insurance. If you make an appointment, tell them you'd like to have an independent evaluation to apply for Wajong. They can reassess your current situation, and confirm your diagnosis. If you are worried about biases against gender or race, try to find client reviews of specific psychiatrists, they usually have reviews on their website, and there are independent websites as well.
Other places to collect information about your current situation are: school, especially if you attended special education, or were not able to graduate secondary school. If you don't already have the files, you can request them for up to five years after you stopped going to school. If you recently dropped out of college or university because of a disability you can use the paperwork from DUO as well. If you ever had a job, or still have a job, you can ask co workers or your boss about their experience working with you, but keep in mind that if you have / ever had a job, even part time, it's unlikely that you can get Wajong. If you have (a) carer(s), attend a day centre, or are in a sheltered or assisted living program, ask them or the staff for your reports, or a review of your current situation. It might be good to know that if you depend on a carer or assisted living, you can apply for additional financial aid, to do so, all you need to do is request it during your evaluation, and provide evidence of the hours of care you receive. The paperwork from your carers budget or the organization that provides the care is enough.
If your application does get rejected, you can still request reevaluation. Depending on your age and situation they might reject your first application on the grounds that you are still developing, and might be able to to work or go to school in the future. The official requirements for this are: you can work four days a week, for at least four hours a day, with the necessary support (something they estimate after your evaluation), and work on a single task for at least one hour at a time. If that's the case, you can reapply for Wajong after your 23th birthday, or when you have evidence that you cannot meet those requirements or need more support than they have estimated (especially when you need a kind of support schools or employers cannot provide)
I hope this is helpful. If you have more questions or need clarification. Feel free to contact me on my personal blog @wishtoflyakite