Release 2.93Mental Health and Benefits Handbook 1st editionContentsAuthors and acknowledgementsForewordAbbreviationsBenefit ratesPart 1: Mental healthChapter 1: Introduction1. What does this Handbook includeBenefit topics includedBenefit topics not includedAbout MindAbout CPAG2. What are mental health problemsMental health problems and disabilitySevere mental illness3. Language used in this HandbookDiagnosisOutdated terminologyDifferent perspectives on mental health4. The different types of benefitMeans-tested benefitsContributory benefitsDisability benefits (non-means-tested and non-contributory)Other types of benefit5. How to use this HandbookChapter 2: Mental health and benefitsKey facts1. How mental health problems can affect youMental health symptomsMental health treatments2. Mental health problems, stigma and misconceptionsTypes of stigmaIntersectionalityStigma and misconceptions in the benefit systemChallenging stigma and misconceptions3. Mental health and the benefit systemEligibilityInflexible systemsRepeating informationForm fillingEvidence requirementsCommunicationAppointments and assessmentsDeadlinesWork-related requirementsReassessments and reviewsSanctionsAppeals and mandatory reconsiderations4. Getting supportChapter 3: Giving adviceKey facts1. Supporting people with mental health problemsTerminologyCommunication preferencesSupport needsSuicidal feelings and self-harmGetting needs recognised in the benefits systemNot passing judgmentEncouragement and realismWhen supporting somebody is challengingLook after your own needs2. The advice journeyHelping people understand what help they might be entitled toStarting a claimCompleting formsCollecting evidenceAssessmentsChallenging a decisionCommunicating on somebody’s behalfAdvice appointments3. Difficult times and bad newsChallenging decisionsWhen nothing can be donePart 2: BenefitsChapter 4: Employment and support allowanceKey facts1. Who can get employment and support allowanceTypes of employment and support allowanceBasic rulesExtra rules for income-related employment and support allowanceExtra rules for contributory employment and support allowanceWho can make a new claim for employment and support allowanceCouplesDisqualification2. The amount of benefitThe amount of income-related employment and support allowanceThe amount of contributory employment and support allowanceThe waiting days, the assessment rate and the appeal rate3. Making a claimClaiming income-related employment and support allowanceClaiming contributory employment and support allowanceClaiming in advance and backdatingAdditional support and appointees4. How you are assessedThe work capability assessmentThe assessment processPeriods of limited capability for work5. DecisionsWork capability decisionsIf you are found 'fit for work'If you are found to have limited capability for workLength of awardsOther decisions6. Getting paidWhen you are paidWhere your payment goes7. Reviews and reassessmentsWork capabilityChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirement8. Employment and support allowance and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capOther sources of financial helpChapter 5: Universal creditKey facts1. Who can get universal credit2. The amount of benefitStep one: calculate your monthly maximum amountStep two: calculate your earnings and how much can be ignoredStep three: calculate your other income and how much can be ignoredStep four: calculate your universal credit entitlementStep five: calculate your universal credit payment3. Making a claimHow to claimWhat you will be asked and how long it will takeCouplesEvidence to support the claimIf you have a health condition or disabilityMoving to universal credit from other benefits4. How you are assessedThe work capability assessmentWho is not assessedThe assessment processThe assessment criteriaPhysical health activitiesMental health activitiesEating and drinkingSubstantial riskTreated as having limited capability for workTreated as having limited capability for work and work-related activityTreated as not having limited capability for work or work-related activity5. DecisionsWork capability decisionsIf you are found 'fit for work'If you are found to have limited capability for workLength of awardsDecisions about your entitlementOther decisions6. Getting paidWhen you are paidWhere your payment goesAlternative payment arrangements7. Reviews and reassessmentsWork capabilityChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirement8. Universal credit and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capOther sources of financial helpChapter 6: Pension creditKey facts1. Who can get pension creditWho can get guarantee creditWho can get savings creditCouples2. The amount of benefitThe amount of guarantee creditThe amount of savings credit3. Making a claimClaiming in advance and backdatingAdditional support and appointees4. How you are assessed5. Decisions6. Getting paidWhen you are paidWhere your payment goes7. Reviews and reassessmentsChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirement8. Pension credit and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capOther sources of financial helpChapter 7: Housing benefitKey facts1. Who can get housing benefitWorking-age and pension-age housing benefitQualifying conditionsWho can make a new claim for housing benefitCouples2. The amount of benefitThe maximum amount of housing benefitWill you get the maximum amount of housing benefit?3. Making a claimClaiming in advance and backdatingAdditional support and appointees4. How you are assessed5. Decisions6. Getting paidWhere your payment goesWhen you are paid7. Reviews and reassessmentsChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirement8. Housing benefit and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capOther sources of financial helpChapter 8: Personal independence paymentKey facts1. Who can get personal independence payment2. The amount of benefit3. Making a claimHow to claimWhat you will be asked and how long it will takeTerminal illness4. How you are assessedThe disability conditionsInterpreting the conditionsThe daily living activitiesThe mobility activitiesScoring systemThe questionnaireThe assessmentIf you fail to complete part of the assessment processIf you need additional support5. DecisionsGetting a decisionLength of awards6. Getting paidWhen you are paidWhere your payment goes7. Reviews and reassessmentsReassessmentMaking a renewal claimChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirements8. Personal independence payment and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capPassports and other sources of helpChapter 9: Adult disability paymentKey facts1. Who can get adult disability paymentThe disability conditionsDifferences from the personal independence payment conditions2. The amount of benefit3. Making a claimHow to claimWhat you will be asked and how long it will takeTerminal illnessTransfers to adult disability payment4. How you are assessedThe Part 2 formSupporting evidenceThe assessment5. DecisionsGetting a determinationLength of awards6. Getting paidWhen you are paidWhere your payment goes7. Reviews and reassessmentsScheduled reviewsChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirements8. Adult disability payment and other benefitsChapter 10: Disability living allowanceKey facts1. Who can get disability living allowanceThe disability conditions2. The amount of benefit3. Making a claimHow to claimTerminal illness4. How a child is assessedThe claim formGathering further information5. DecisionsGetting a decisionLength of awards6. Getting paid7. Reviews and reassessmentsMaking a renewal claimChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirements8. Disability living allowance and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsCarers’ benefitsThe benefit capPassports and other sources of helpChapter 11: Child disability paymentKey facts1. Who can get child disability paymentThe disability conditions2. The amount of benefit3. Making a claimHow to claimTerminal illness4. How a child is assessedThe Part 2 formTimescalesSupporting evidence5. DecisionsGetting a determinationLength of awards6. Getting paid7. Reviews and reassessmentsScheduled reviewsChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirements8. Child disability payment and other benefitsChapter 12: Attendance allowanceKey facts1. Who can get attendance allowanceThe disability conditions2. The amount of benefit3. Making a claimHow to claimTerminal illness4. How you are assessedThe claim formGathering further information5. DecisionsGetting a decisionLength of awards6. Getting paidWhen are you paidWhere your payment goes7. Reviews and reassessmentsMaking a renewal claimChange of circumstancesOngoing evidence requirements8. Attendance allowance and other benefitsMeans-tested benefits and tax creditsNon-means-tested benefitsThe benefit capPassports and other sources of helpPart 3: Key topicsChapter 13: Supporting evidenceKey facts1. When you might need supporting evidence2. Types of evidence and how to get themTypes of evidenceOld, new and undated evidenceSubject access requests3. Submitting evidence4. Evidence and decision-makingChapter 14: AssessmentsKey facts1. The assessment providerAt what stage are you referred?The healthcare professionalWhen an assessment might not be required2. In-person, telephone and video assessmentsAssessment typesClinic assessmentsAssessments at homeRemote assessmentsAsking for a particular assessment typeOvercoming barriers to attending an assessment3. Missing, cancelling or rearranging an assessmentGetting notice of an assessmentCancelling an assessmentRearranging an assessmentMissing an assessment4. Preparing for an assessmentAudio recording of your assessment5. What happens in an assessmentBeing accompaniedQuestionsInformal observationsParticipating in the assessment6. After an assessmentComplaintsChapter 15: Work, work-related requirements and sanctionsKey facts1. Benefits and work2. Work-related requirementsUniversal creditNew-style employment and support allowanceOld-style employment and support allowance3. Sanctions and hardship paymentsUniversal creditNew-style employment and support allowanceOld-style employment and support allowanceOther financial support while sanctionedChapter 16: In education, hospital, a care home or prisonKey facts1. Education and benefitsWhat happens when you are in education2. Benefits in hospitalWhat happens when you are in hospitalWhat counts as being in hospitalPractical considerations if you go into hospital3. Benefits while staying in a care homeWhat happens while staying in a care home4. Benefits in prisonWhat happens while in prisonChapter 17: Getting a decision changedKey facts1. General rules about revision and supersessionRevisionSupersessionHow to request a revision or supersession2. Mandatory reconsiderationWhen to ask for a mandatory reconsiderationHow to ask for a mandatory reconsiderationThe mandatory reconsideration decision3. AppealsDecisions that can be appealedDecisions that cannot be appealedAdvice and representationAppeal processPayments while challenging a decisionIf your circumstances change after the date of a decision4. Making a complaintComplaints about the DWP and its assessment providersComplaints about HM Revenue and Customs, HM Courts and Tribunals Service or the local authority5. Judicial reviewWhat is judicial reviewTime limits for judicial reviewSending a letter before actionJudicial review in the High Court or Court of Session6. Getting a determination by Social Security Scotland changedRedeterminationDetermination without applicationProcess decisionsAppealsPayments while awaiting a redetermination or appealComplaintsJudicial reviewChapter 18: Support, escalation and third partiesKey facts1. Representatives and consentConsent rulesProducing an authority form2. AppointeeshipDWP benefitsAdult disability payment and child disability paymentHousing benefitChild benefit and tax creditsThe tribunal3. Support within the benefits systemComplex needs guidanceReasonable adjustmentsSpecial rules about returning formsHome visit before payments are stoppedThe tribunalSpecialist staff members and teams4. Urgent cases5. SafeguardingSafeguarding in the benefits systemSafeguarding someone you are supportingAppendix 1: Glossary of termsAppendix 2: Information and adviceBenefits independent advice and representationAdvice from CPAGFinding help onlineAppendix 3: Work capability assessment physical descriptors1. Physical mobility2. Standing and sitting3. Reaching4. Picking things up and moving them5. Manual dexterity6. Making yourself understood7. Understanding communication8. Navigating and staying safe9. Continence10. Consciousness during waking momentsAppendix 4: Abbreviations used in the notesActs of ParliamentRegulations and other statutory instruments