dla and depression

jackie.r

my 15 year old son has been on fluoxetine since June and will be for at least another 6 months. Can i claim dla

healy

If he has care/mobility needs you could put in a claim for DLA, but DLA is only usually paid when people have serious mental health problems.

munchings-n-crunchings

To claim DLA you will need to show that your son needs substantially more care than another 15 year old.

Being on medication, or a diagnosis on it's own is not enough to claim.
It's the Care needs from another person, or the mobility needs.

Regards
Munchie

System

If he has the care/mobility needs then he could have a claim put in for depression, as long as he's had it for 3 months and its expected to go on for/need help with the next 6 months. I imagine the fact they've given him fluoxetine shows how serious it must be as they usually won't give it to under 18's cos of the increased risks.

I would advise getting help from your local CAB for example in filling in the form.

Also if your son's GP will support the claim and if your son has a CPN or ASW who can perhaps write a letter supporting the claim, this would also help.

I'm in the process of claiming DLA for depression (and BPD) myself , stil wiaitng to hear though.

jackie.r

thanks for the advice. I do have to make sure he eats properly due to self esteem issues(thinks hes fat, but is ideal weight) and to get him to school most mornings

Oldernotwiser

jackie.r wrote: »

thanks for the advice. I do have to make sure he eats properly due to self esteem issues(thinks hes fat, but is ideal weight) and to get him to school most mornings

Thanked you by mistake.

I think your second point could be true of most teenagers!

You have to have pretty severe mental illness to claim DLA: it's not a label most people would be in a hurry to pin on their children.

sunnyone

jackie.r wrote: »

thanks for the advice. I do have to make sure he eats properly due to self esteem issues(thinks hes fat, but is ideal weight) and to get him to school most mornings

Show me a 15 year old that dosnt?

Thats normal and not a disability.

sunny

System

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Thanked you by mistake.

I think your second point could be true of most teenagers!

You have to have pretty severe mental illness to claim DLA: it's not a label most people would be in a hurry to pin on their children.

I still get the impression that he wouldn't have been put in AD's unless it was deemed severe enough. AD's are not recommended for use in mild or moderate depression, and although fluoxetine is the only AD which is ok for under 18's to use its still not commonly prescribed unless the GP thinks the patient needs it. In fact it is only recommended for those with severe depression. Doctors are advised to refer children with depression for therapy. None of the antidepressants are licensed for use in young people under the age of 18 and should only be used by child and adolescent psychiatrists, after a careful assessment.

Even when i was 16/17 they refused to let me have AD's as they said they couldnt cos i was under 18 and they preferred to try talking therapies.

[Deleted User]

the reason hes on fluoxetine might help?
as i understand it its unusual for anyone under 18 to be prescribed this drug,if its the one i`m thinking of,due to the possibility of making them suicidal,my daughter was on it at 17.5 for ocd but only after the consultant took responsibilty for prescribing it as the gp wouldnt.
As already stated dla will only apply if he has care and or mobility needs,has had them for 3 months and is likely to have them for at least another 6 months.

[Deleted User]

sunnyone wrote: »

Show me a 15 year old that dosnt?

Thats normal and not a disability.

sunny

I could show you plenty who dont,but then again they wouldnt fit the stereotype you have implanted in your mind would it?

bestpud

The worry I have here is this lad has been placed on anti-depressants and they may well improve his depression significantly.

DLA can take a few months to get up and running, and in that time, the fact he is putting in a claim for it may well convince him he won't get better. At the very least, it will be more dificult for him to say he now feels much better, or even ok, if it means he will have to retract the claim.

Same with you tbh - your outlook on his illness, and recovery, will undoubtedly be affected by the claims process.

He's only been on the meds since June and it is pretty standard for anti-ds to be prescribed for at least six months, so don't write him off just yet!

Why are you thinking of DLA anyway? Have you had to give up work to get him out of bed and off to school?