Bi-Polar and benefits?

LolitaLove

Hi everyone,

Really hoping someone can help me with some advice that's desperately needed for a friend. Gonna try and make things easier if I can so any advice you have will be really gratefully appreciated!

Friend was training to be a nurse (ironically, a mental health nurse:P). He'd been having a hard time recently, and became very unwell, was acting quite weird and recklessly. He has now been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder/depression. He has been asked to leave his course as he is no longer considered medically fit to practice.
So my question is around benefits. At the minute my friend is very very low and has been staying with me but will need to sort finances out soon. He's not really in a fit state to find work at the minute (getting asked to leave his course has knocked him for six, and he's been suicidal at one point). What kind of benefits would he be entitled to, if any?

Thanks in advance for replies xx

Hammyman

My daughter is in the same boat. Are you sure it is a he and not a she? .

Anyway, it looks like there is only ESA. No DLA because she can look after herself.

bobajob_1966

As Hammyman says, he needs to claim ESA, and many with bipolar also qualify for DLA due to the need to be watched over.

Did the university give him the option to suspend his studies? Many people with bipolar have successful careers, including in mental healthcare, and it seems rather extreme for him to be removed from the course without being given the opportunity to learn to manage his condition.

Muttleythefrog

ESA is a possibility as an out of work benefit for those unable to work due to illness/disability. DLA is a possibility if care or mobility needs arise in line with the benefit criteria.

robus

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

ESA is a possibility as an out of work benefit for those unable to work due to illness/disability. DLA is a possibility if care or mobility needs arise in line with the benefit criteria.

Yes that is correct, but proving that those needs actually exist is another matter!

DLA claimants are automatically viewed as potential fraudsters by the DWP. They have to provide enough evidence to prove that they aren't as well as provide evidence of what they say is totally correct.

AND the DWP will not seek out this evidence (apart from a badly worded report that may be issued to the GP) - it is the claimants responsibility to provide it.