DLA depression and medication

nabitus

If a person has been diagnosed with depression, and would like to claim for DLA, do they have to take medication?

Dunroamin

You don't get DLA for a diagnosis but because of any care or mobility needs you might have.

uponahill

nabitus wrote: »

If a person has been diagnosed with depression, and would like to claim for DLA, do they have to take medication?

As the other poster has said, DLA is all about needs and not the medical condition.

No one will force you to take any drugs or undergo surgery.

You could say that by not taking the medication may prolong your needs beyond what they would be if you did take your medication.

So to prolong your claim, there is nothing stopping you refusing all medication.

The DWP cannot do anything about it even if they know that in taking your medication it could remove your needs and obviously your DLA entitlement

lynnysinger

uponahill wrote: »

As the other poster has said, DLA is all about needs and not the medical condition.

No one will force you to take any drugs or undergo surgery.

You could say that by not taking the medication may prolong your needs beyond what they would be if you did take your medication.

So to prolong your claim, there is nothing stopping you refusing all medication.

The DWP cannot do anything about it even if they know that in taking your medication it could remove your needs and obviously your DLA entitlement

OMG that sounds so contrived !! why would anyone want to live in misery for the sake of a few quid rather thanget better. honestly, that is the worst bit of advise i have ever heard on here

wiccanlou

I agree with that too. Stupid to even suggest risking your mental health and prolonging suffering for money and to think it yourself is just as bad, by not taking your meds when you are supposed you are risking becoming so depressed you can become suicidal if your depression can get that bad, not a good place to be in believe me I know.

Muttleythefrog

nabitus wrote: »

If a person has been diagnosed with depression, and would like to claim for DLA, do they have to take medication?

Simple answer no. Medication though would be confirmation that the medical profession regard you as having symptoms requiring of treatment.

DLA is awarded based on the care and mobility needs arising due to illness rather than for the illness itself.

You might find the following link useful.. it's the DWP A-Z of medical conditions. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/
It does describe the sorts of treatment, care/mobility considerations that may be typical of various conditions and their severity.

uponahill

lynnysinger wrote: »

OMG that sounds so contrived !! why would anyone want to live in misery for the sake of a few quid rather thanget better. honestly, that is the worst bit of advise i have ever heard on here

The OP asked:

If a person has been diagnosed with depression, and would like to claim
for DLA, do they have to take medication?

The answer as I have stated is correct. No one can force anyone to accept medical advice.

I then went on to say that in doing what the poster is clearly considering, not taking the medication, they could continue to claim the benefit.

To take it a step even further, you can claim the benefit as long as the needs exist and that they exist because medication is not being taken

The poster is clearly asking if there would be a problem with DLA if the medication is not taken - the answer is no.

So why is my answer contrived? The OP is the one that is suggesting not taking the medication and hoping that the benefit will continue!

Besides which to some money IS more important than health. A few quid could possibly be £100 a week!

tigerlilly1988

i have been battling with depression for years now due to thing that have happened over the past 20 years in the past 16 months it taken it toll on me and my family due to trying to take my life back last year my partner pleaded with me to get help for myself him and the kids i agreed i am now on medication and await to see a psychiatrist bout allow i am on the medication i'm not 100% and am still afraid to leave my house and avoid it at all costs my partner has had to reduce his hours at work because he doesn't like being away to long and also to take the kids back and for school, i am also awaiting to here from the hospital because iv been getting pain in my joint in my left arm and have limited use of it witch make every day a challenge for me as i have five kids oldest 7 and youngest 10 month my partner dose alot for me as alot of thing i cant do can i claim DLA for these thing :cry

Anubis_2

uponahill wrote: »

As the other poster has said, DLA is all about needs and not the medical condition.

No one will force you to take any drugs or undergo surgery.

You could say that by not taking the medication may prolong your needs beyond what they would be if you did take your medication.

So to prolong your claim, there is nothing stopping you refusing all medication.

The DWP cannot do anything about it even if they know that in taking your medication it could remove your needs and obviously your DLA entitlement

Ridiculous answer. I doubt very much the needs would be greater without medication as severe depression requires medical intervention at some stage, so it is unlikely a claimant would be seen as a severe case if they took no medication, and had no record of psychiatric care.

If it is a diagnosis of "you are depressed, take these for 6 months" then DLA is very unlikely to be awarded at all, especially if it is a new diagnosis, at least for the foreseeable future until a mental health record is built up.

It is not as easy as you are making it out to be at all, and your response is ignorant.

Muttleythefrog

tigerlilly1988 wrote: »

i... can i claim DLA for these thing :cry

This is a good link to take you through the considerations systematically in relation to whether you could be entitled to DLA in principle (proving it can be quite a different battle as I have found having finished mine after 2.5 years). There are a lot of explanatory notes to each of the points which should be sufficient for you to get a very good idea.
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp

tigerlilly1988

Anubis wrote: »

Ridiculous answer. I doubt very much the needs would be greater without medication as severe depression requires medical intervention at some stage, so it is unlikely a claimant would be seen as a severe case if they took no medication, and had no record of psychiatric care.

If it is a diagnosis of "you are depressed, take these for 6 months" then DLA is very unlikely to be awarded at all, especially if it is a new diagnosis, at least for the foreseeable future until a mental health record is built up.

It is not as easy as you are making it out to be at all, and your response is ignorant.

i feel like iv done the wrong think by asking the question i have been diagnosed with depression but was unaware of dla until my partner said and was just inquiring about it:(