Please tell us your questions on mental health & debt

MSE_Jenny

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] What's this about?[/title]
We're in the midst of producing a free guide to dealing with debt and mental health. The problem is vast: a disproportionate number of those with mental health problems are in debt; and a disproportionate number of those in debt crisis have mental health problems.

The guide will be written to help and provide guidance for the individuals themselves and families and carers.

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] We want your questions
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We're already working with mental health charities, yet we wanted some on-the-ground feedback to go towards this important guide.

The guide will be full of practical info on dealing with mental health and money, so please tell us what questions you’d like answers to, and we’ll try to include answers in the guide.

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] Some examples ... [/title]
Questions could be on anything nagging away at you. But examples include ‘Would it affect my mortgage application if my bank knows I have mental health issues?’, 'are there any strategies to stop spending when I'm low' or ‘I care for someone with mental capacity issues, how can I get their debt written off?’

Please press reply to add your suggestions.

rubytuesday

When I was ill, I got into arrears with my credit card as I was unable to return to work. It went to a debt collection agency and I was able to have the interest frozen. When I was really struggling someone from the Mental Health Team contacted them and my payments were suspended; so who to get help from and what they can help you with would be a good question.

lad22

What if someone is sectioned and later it becomes clear that the admission was unlawful. However, the person is by then working and just over the limit for legal aid. How can they obtain redress?

cosykit

I have suffered with social phobia, anxiety & recurrent major depression for nearly 10 years, I had to give up my full time job as a teacher as a result of the illness. My husband had to give up his job to care for me 9 years ago.
At the time all credit cards/loans refused to cover the payments as they stated that the illness was a result of pregnancy, (illness began as post natal depression but has progressively worsened as the years have gone on). We presently have a token monthly payment system in place with all creditors but obviously these debts are barely moving.
We are presently in battle with the people at DLA to attempt to get a higher rate of allowance for myself, we only receive lower rates for both the mobility & care components, hence my husband has never been able to claim carers allowance & hence as a family unit we get very little support.
My illness effects not only myself but the whole family including the children, we are an exceptionally low income family & as a result of my illness lead a pretty reclusive lifestyle, financially it is a constant struggle.
Many thanks

ocoste

My brother suffers from schizophrenia. He is also an alcoholic. His girlfriend suffered similar illness to a lesser degree. Tragically, she committed suicide a few months ago. The point of debt is this: She took out a personal loan, which by all accounts was on my brother’s behalf. The true details of the distribution of the money borrowed is vague.

Now her family are pursuing my brother for re-payment of the loan. On several levels he is unable to comply with this. My question is this: a) Is the legal situation not that personal debt is written off on a person’s death? And b) as my brother did not co-sign for the loan, does the family have any legal right to pursue him for repayment of the loan?

This is a sad, unsavoury episode and I’d appreciate any advice on offer.
Thanks

ash4becks

iam 24 with bad depression also few weeks as post tramatic stress and 26k in debt at last count , letters come in the door and i just hide them away , my debts started after i was sexally assuslted at 19 went a bit or the rails mentally and physicly spending sprees of 3 or 4 grand in a day i no if i was in a good state of mind this wouldnt have happened, eg, nana died then i got a phone contract out didnt need one already had a phone, i seem to react to bad situation by spending money i dont have which i dont understand till a later date but very bad judjement and very messed up is there anyway i can get this wrote of on medical grounds, atm iam on dla and income support, being young i really dont want to go bankrupt any help would be great x

kittykat211273

I have Bipolar Disorder and a classic symptom of that is spending money you havent really got! Over the years I have got into debt many many times at one time I had £25k of debt I paid it of when I re mortgaged my house but then ran it up again to £25k within a year! At this time I was undiagnosed and just thought I was irresponsible with money, I couldnt seem to get straight even though I was a high flying sales woman in IT sales and earned about £30k a year.
In 2006 I had a major breakdown and could no longer work I had to sell my house and managed to pay off a lot of my debt then but some still remained. between 2006 and 2008 when I was eventually diagnosed I ran up more debt and have carried on doing so even though I am now medicated and a lot better than I used to be I am trying to live on DLA and income support and it just isnt enough to support me and my 17 year old son and support my spending sprees which happen when I am manic.
I owe money to credit cards, gas, electric, BT, Argos, mobile phone companies etc etc I have no idea of the total but it must be going up for £15k and all I do is just ignore the threatening letters that come through the door Ive found if I dont respond in any way to them nothing seems to actually happen, I havent had court orders or door step collectors turn up. But it is a constant worry and stress which is no good for my illness.
I have just completed my Diploma to be a counsellor which I am really proud of doing but I worry that the minute I start working that the debt collectors will come calling
Ive no idea what to do and no one seems to be able to help me.....does anyone know of anything that I can do?
People who dont understand would just say "stop spending" but Bipolar disorder actually makes you spend money its a huge part of the illness that I cant avoid I feel like Ive no way out of my debt hole and that no one seems to care or want to help me.
Any advice would be gratefully received:)
Kat x

Gnomie

I would really have welcomed advice on help and support that is available while trying to claim benifits. I have severe depression, anxiety and OCD. For the past 8 months I have had no income after suspending my studies and so I started trying to claim Employment and Support Allowance. Problem was, I couldn't really deal with the phone calls, unhelpful people and letters telling me I wan't eligible for one reason or another, or that paperwork was missing. The last letter I recieved was a month ago telling me my claim had been terminated, despite me never having seen any money from them at all. It sent me into a complete crisis and I am just getting back on my feet. Trouble is that now a month has passed the appeals process becomes even more complex. I have now asked the CAB for advice, but a couple of weeks ago I could hardly leave the house, let alone go to a new place with new people. In the mean time I have been just accumulating debt. If I had had support from the start I might have got out of all these problems by now, and have one less thing to worry about.

holte-ender-1983

I have recently split from my partner of 8years. She always struggled with depression and mood swings etc but would never seek medical advice. In the past she had also taken numerous overdoses. Since the split she has sought medical advice and was immediately prescribed anti-depressants and referred to a crisis team. It was also advice that she voluntarily was admitted to a mental health facility for restbite and a diagnosis which she did not do. She was signed off work for several weeks. Although now back at work she still has no diagnosis however bipolar has been brought up on several occasions by the doctor. She is somewhat of a compulsive liar so some details are sketchy. During the 5 months since the split we were still living together and I noticed post coming that was almost certainly letters chasing her for money. She would always brush this off until one I found a pile of letters stuffed down the side of her bed, credit cards and phone bills etc. A little later down the line I found that she had stolen £1100 from my bank account and taken out several "pay day loans" that she could not pay back as she was signed off work. These are still outstanding with the charges mounting and she is now paying me back the money she stole. When confronted about this money totalling nearly 2 grand over a 5 week period she has no idea what she spent it on and nothing to show for it. I read in another post that this can be a symptom of bipolar? Her mom has always suffered with depression and anxiety problems. Although her debts are not as obscene as alot of peoples I worry it will escalate without any help plus there could well be debts I don't know about as she recently moved out. Despite everything that has happened I love her dearly and would be grateful of any advice to help her get back on her feet.

wolfehouse

I care for someone with schizophrenia. she does not want me in charge of her affairs but there is no named care manager who looks after her finances.
she has been readmitted to hospital repeatedly and has lost her tenancy this way. how can i make sure someone has a duty of care to look after her possessions
and keep an eye in general over finacial matters for her when she is incapable?
is there some way to determine when she is capable and when not?
who has a duty of care toward her possessions after they are 'bagged and tagged' if she cannot present herself to get them out of storage?
her benefits stop when she has been in hospital for a prolonged time. is she not expected to have any needs at all then or how are incidentals provided for?

kentishdoris

I think it would be helpful to include something on employment and mental health as well. Being off work with stress/anxiety/depression is very common and the about of sick pay that be claimed varies hugely. Knowing where to go for support to help you stay in work would and therefore limit the risk of debt would be good.