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DWP paying people with these mental health problems up to £184 a week

by · BristolLive

Struggling with a mental health problem can devastatingly affect every aspect of your life, including your ability to work. But financial help is available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with welfare benefits that you could qualify for if you have the likes of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Turn2Us highlighted: “Disabilities caused by mental health problems are supposed to be treated the same as physical disabilities in the benefits system.” The charity notes that people with mental health issues could be entitled to Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance.

Which support you should claim depends on how severe your mental health issues are and how they impact your day-to-day life. For example, if you are unable work full time due to mental health reasons you could receive Universal Credit.

This support is a monthly payment for people who are out of work, on a low income or cannot work. There are a vast variety of rates, premiums and additions that can influence how much you receive depending on your personal circumstances.

Last November the average payout for single people with no children was £650 while couples with children received an average of £1,140 a month. However, if you have been working in the last two to three years but your mental health is now making it too difficult to stay employed you could claim Employment and Support Allowance instead.

This provides support to get back into work if necessary as well as financial support between £90.50 and £138.20 per week and national credits which can bolster your state pension. If your mental health is impacting your life outside of work, such as impeding your ability to conduct daily tasks or get around, then you could qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance.

The main difference between these two is that the latter is for those above state pension age but to claim PIP you have to be under the state pension age. PIP offers between £28.70 and £184.30 per week while Attendance Allowance provides from £72.65 to £108.55 and contrary to popular belief you don’t need to have a carer or attendant to be eligible for this benefit.

All of these benefits can be applied for online through the DWP website but it’s worth noting they each have additional qualifying criteria and different application processes. Turn2Us also recommended utilising a benefits checker to see if there are other potential support and benefits you could be missing out on.