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Section 2 of the DLA forms is the real time-and potentially emotion-eater, for it is here that
you are asked to detail the needs you have because of your mental health
problems. Getting all the information the DWP needs down in writing can take
ages, and can also be upsetting, given that you need to concentrate on
potentially painful things. You may want to get advice and/ or help with filling the
DLA forms in—any good
advice agency should be able to help you, or you might have access to a Welfare
Rights Service through, for example, your local Mind centre, Mental Health
Services or Council. If it helps, take a friend with you for company, and be
aware that it will probably take some time for the person who is helping you to
gather all the information they need. If you decide to fill the
DLA forms in for yourself, you’ll hopefully find the
limited suggestions contained on this website useful.
There’s a lot more in the way of suggestions and sample forms contained in The
Big Book of Benefits and Mental Health - which your local Mind Group may well
have in their library—and it’s hoped to include that information here in future
as this website grows. When you get the
DLA form, it will have two dates stamped on the front of Section 1.
The first is the date you asked for the form. The second is the date by which
you need to return it to make sure any award is backdated to when they were
first requested. If time is short, and you’re waiting for help with filling in the second
section, it’s only the first section which has to be completed and sent back by
the second date. However once you have sent back Section 1 the DWP often start
hassling you for Section 2! The other thing that sometimes slows the process down is getting someone to
complete the ‘Statement’ part at the end of Section 2 of the DLA Forms. Although anyone who knows
you can fill this in, it’s better to ask someone who knows you in the context of
your health problems and who is preferably involved in your care—e.g. your keyworker, CPN, Social Worker, Consultant or G.P. You may, then, want to ask
them as soon as you get the form back / next |
