Benefits for People with Mental Health Problems

The following information relates to some of the benefits which
may be available to you if you are suffering from mental health problems.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

DLA is made up of two components – the care component and the mobility component. It is paid to people who have difficulty going out alone or physical problems walking and/or who need help with personal care. DLA:

• Can be paid in addition to any other benefits
• Is not means tested
• Will not affect other benefits (except perhaps in a positive way)
• Is not affected by capital
• Can even be paid to those who work (as long as they still satisfy the qualifying criteria)
  

Mobility component

You may qualify for low rate mobility if you need ‘guidance and supervision’ from another person when outdoors. This may be for example because you:

• Have panic attacks
• Hear voices and get disorientated
• Have agoraphobia
• Might put yourself or other people in danger

If you have physical difficulties with walking, you may qualify for a higher rate of the Mobility Component.

Care component

People with mental health problems may need motivation and encouragement to manage their care needs, for instance getting out of bed, washing, dressing and cooking for themselves. They may also require supervision, for example to ensure that they take medication at the right times and that they don’t cause any harm to themselves or others. These are just examples of care needs, but there are many others including phyiscal needs,which may all enable you to qualify for the care component of DLA.

People who qualify for DLA at the middle or higher rate of the care component may qualify for extra Income Support, and someone may be able to claim Carers Allowance for caring for them. However advice should always be sought before claiming Carers Allowance as it may affect both the carer and the cared for person’s benefits.  back to top

Incapacity Benefit (IB), Income Support (IS) and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

These benefits may be available to you if you are unable to work because of mental health problems. You may also be able to claim Income Support as the carer of someone with mental health problems. Income Support can also include money to help pay your mortgage interest payments.

Income Support

This is a means-tested for people on a low income. You can claim Income Support if:

Your savings are not over £16,000 (£16,000 if over 60), and
You do not work more than 16 hours a week (your partner must not work more than 24 hours per week), and
You do not have to sign on for work, either because you are not fit for work, or because you are caring for someone. back to top

Incapacity Benefit

Can be claimed if you are incapable of work due to illness, and

• You have paid enough National Insurance contributions, or
• You are under 20 (in some cases under 25), and
• You cannot get Statutory Sick Pay

To register your incapacity for work for IB, IS or SDA, you must send in medical certificates from your doctor for the first 28 weeks of your claim. From week 29 onwards, the ‘personal capability assessment’ applies.

The personal capability assessment contains two tests, the physical disabilities assessment and the mental disabilities assessment. However, if your medical certificates show you have mental health problems the DWP will write to your doctor for more information to see if you can be exempted from the personal capability assessment due to ‘severe mental illness.’

For these purposes, severe mental illness is suggested for example by a need for ongoing psychiatric care, long-term medication with anti-psychotic drugs and where your condition severely restricts your social functioning or means you are likely to pose a threat or danger to others.

If you can’t be exempted you will need to fill in a questionnaire and score points under the personal capability assessment.

Points are awarded for different ‘descriptors’ which describe different areas of mental and physical capability.

To pass the test and continue receiving benefit you must score either:

• 15 points from the physical section, or
• 10 points from the mental disabilities section, or
• If your score is between 6 and 9 points from the mental disability section you must also score at least 6 points in the physical section

The mental disabilities section has descriptors relating to four main areas of activity:

• Completion of tasks
• Daily living
• Coping with pressure
• Interaction with other people back to top

Severe Disablement Allowance - was abolished for new claimants on 6th April 2001, but some people who were receiving it prior to this date can continue to receive it.  back to top

Helpful websites

www.rethink.org - formerly national schizophrenia society

www.mind.org.uk - mental health charity

www.sane.org.uk - mental illness website

www.phobics-society.org.uk - anxiety disorders website

www.nmha.org - national mental health association

www.depressionalliance.org - site focussing on depression  back to top