mental illness reason for sending claim late?

Can mental illness be a reason for sending in the DLA claim form late?

Mental illness may be good cause for not claiming at the appropriate time.

Official guidance from volume 1 of the Decision Maker Guide states:-

Health

02621
The claimant’s health should always be considered when looking at good cause.
Claimants who are unable to claim on time because they
1. have a serious illness and
2. were unable to ask someone to claim on their behalf
may show good cause while they are ill. If, after a serious illness, the delay continues, good cause depends on whether the claimant has done all that could be reasonably expected in the circumstances.

1 CS 51/49; 2 CG 207/49

02622
A claimant who
1. is unable to complete a claim form or
2. can complete a claim form but is unable to post or deliver it to the office is expected to ask someone to complete, post or deliver it for them. Good cause will not be accepted unless it would be unreasonable for them to do this.

1 R(S) 21/54

If you wish to cite good cause for not claming on time, you will need to give full details of the reasons why you were unable to claim within the prescribed time limits for DLA.

I asked this question to an advisor at the Mind charity and was told the DLA people would not consider mental health problems as a reason why it was past the 6 week deadline...

...yet when i spoke to DIAL was told it would be considered.

I asked the MIND advisor again because I saw in the National Autistic Society's pamphlet on DLA mentioning difficulty filling in forms and the Mind advisor is still certain that DLA decision makers won't consider it!

Is there a difference between theory and in practice?

Also I was wondering which file The Decision Maker guide was of the Benefits and Works guides. Is there a hyperlink i could jump to?

The Decision Makers Guide is separate from the Benefits and Works guides, but it is available to view HERE.

Nervy wrote:

I asked this question to an advisor at the Mind charity and was told the DLA people would not consider mental health problems as a reason why it was past the 6 week deadline...

...yet when i spoke to DIAL was told it would be considered.

I asked the MIND advisor again because I saw in the National Autistic Society's pamphlet on DLA mentioning difficulty filling in forms and the Mind advisor is still certain that DLA decision makers won't consider it!

Is there a difference between theory and in practice?

Also I was wondering which file The Decision Maker guide was of the Benefits and Works guides. Is there a hyperlink i could jump to?

I always thought learning problems allowed late forms....... but not on mental health grounds

Nervy wrote:

Can mental illness be a reason for sending in the DLA claim form late?

I agree with Crazydiamond, mental illness should be a factor in submitting a late claim for DLA.

Can I ask was this a first claim for DLA or a renewal ?