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Can you claim dla if you have depression?

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hi all. i've had depression on and off now for 20+ years. iam on esa at the meoment and just wonded if i could claim the low rate dla?.:help:

 

thanks

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You can claim DLA with any condition which limits your ability to do basic tasks- it's not about the condition itself but how it affects your ability to do things that matter for DLA.

 

You lose nothing by asking for forms and filling them in, but please be aware that the forms for DLA are huge and you will probably need assistance filling them in to know what (specifically) the forms want you to comment upon for each bit of the form.

 

Severe mental health problems can indeed leave you unable to look after yourself in basic terms, so there would be no reason that you couldn't apply, but the only people who can tell you whether your particular issues meet any of the criteria for the care component of DLA are specialists who help with these sorts of forms and the DWP who adjudicate applications.

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I would say definitely yes but do get someone to help you fill in the form to make sure you miss nothing. Its based on a point system and you need to make sure you don't understate your problems or you may fail because they don't realise how severe your problems are.

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I don't think you could. My ex-husband tried to claim DLA for his paranoid schizophrenia and depression, I wrote the witness statement about how I had to help him with day to day tasks etc. but we got nothing.

 

Now living on his own, he receives incapacity benefit.

Edited by jess.s
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i know 2 people at least that have and are still currently claiming, go for it the worst they can do is say no but apeal against it as you may just have filled the form in wrong

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I don't think you could. My ex-husband tried to claim DLA for his paranoid schizophrenia and depression, I wrote the witness statement about how I had to help him with day to day tasks etc. but we got nothing.

 

Now living on his own, he receives incapacity benefit.

 

It is possible to be awarded DLA for mental conditions, including depression; but it's notoriously hard to prove that your condition seriously limits your ability to do everyday tasks.

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I am not saying it will be easy but if it is having a major impact on your life and ability to work you are entitled.

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I successfully claimed for depression (and bpd) first time round (and i know of 2 other people who get it for MH conditions), as someone else said its all based on care and mobility needs. I got help from CAB as i found i struggled to do the forms myself.

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How on earth can you claim for something you've been living with for 20+ years?

You would pretty much be saying "I've been living with it but have now realised I could get some money out of it so I'm giving it a go".

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How on earth can you claim for something you've been living with for 20+ years?

You would pretty much be saying "I've been living with it but have now realised I could get some money out of it so I'm giving it a go".

 

Because you can suddenly come to the realisation of how much it has affected you. It could have got worse, and or other circumstances could impact on the underlying problems...

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Because you can suddenly come to the realisation of how much it has affected you. It could have got worse, and or other circumstances could impact on the underlying problems...

 

So after 20 years you realise its affecting you and this just happens to be when you're unemployed? How strange.

 

I take back what I said anyway, I recently discovered people claim DLA for being fat.

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