Supporting clients with mental health conditions

Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders can impact people’s daily lives in several ways including additional costs to seek treatment. Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment, and Pension Age Disability Payment can help with these extra expenses, covering costs such as therapy.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, we spoke to one of our colleagues who is a former mental health nurse about the ways we support clients with mental health conditions.

Aille, who joined our in-house specialist Health and Social Care team in 2019 spent 20 years as a mental health nurse before joining us in 2019.

Aille said:

“We provide one-to-one assistance over the phone, in local areas across Scotland and in client’s homes if necessary. By providing this service, our client advisors help people understand which benefits they may be entitled to and how to apply for them.

“Internally we have a forum which helps our mental health qualified practitioners and senior practitioners stay informed of new developments in mental health including legislation, new research and medication changes. This helps our team stay up to date with their profession while ensuring a high-quality service for our clients.”

Having a full understanding of mental health conditions helps us to support our clients. Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), explained the importance of understanding benefit entitlement.

Billy said:

“People with mental illness often don't think of themselves as disabled – which is their choice. But in many cases, they will be eligible to receive disability benefits. In fact, a high number of people with mental illness receive Adult Disability Payment.

"It's really important that people with mental illness and their carers explore what they might be entitled to. And that's the key point – it's an entitlement. It's not about being unemployed, it's to help with the extra daily costs of living with mental illness, whether you're in work or not."

To find out more about disability benefits and apply online, over the phone or book an appointment to apply in person, visit mygov.scot/benefits or call us free on 0800 182 2222.