Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form
First launched in 2008 by the Money Advice Liaison Group, the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF) has provided creditors with a way to collect external evidence about a customer’s mental health situation to decide what support to give to that customer.
Key changes to the DMHEF form
A review conducted by the Department of Health and Social Care, along with the British Medical Association, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, Money Advice Trust, UK Finance, the Credit Services Association and other key stakeholders has led to key changes to the form and process.
The form is now shorter, GPs who agree to complete the DMHEF can no longer charge for this and firms are being encouraged to consider alternative forms of evidence when assessing an indebted person’s mental health. The form is now hosted online by the Money Advice Trust.
For further information about when and how the form can be used, and to download a copy of the form and associated documents, select the relevant option below.
Information and downloads for creditors
This page briefly introduces the DMHEF. A more detailed user guide can be downloaded, along with the full set of DMHEF materials below.
Creditor user guide
Creditor DMHEF consent form
DMHEF Form
What is the DMHEF?
- The Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF) is a form that only health and social care professionals can complete.
- The DMHEF is sometimes used when an organisation that is owed money needs evidence to confirm that a customer has a mental health problem.
- When this happens, the customer (or someone authorised to act on their behalf) approaches a health or social care professional to complete the DMHEF.
- The completed DMHEF is then shared with the organisation that is owed money. Along with other information, it is used to help decide what action to take.
Who can use the DMHEF?
The DMHEF can be used by:
- organisations who are owed money (to help them decide what action to take)
- debt advisers (to negotiate with organisations that a client owes money to)
- people with mental health and debt problems (with the help of a debt adviser).
The DMHEF cannot be completed without the consent and help of the person with the mental health problem (or someone formally authorised to act on their behalf).
When should the DMHEF be used?
- Before using the DMHEF, creditors should ask themselves whether evidence actually does need to be collected? This involves considering whether further evidence is really needed to take fair and proportionate action.
- If further evidence really is needed, creditors should ask themselves whether alternative evidence is available which could do the same job as the DMHEF? This includes considering whether copies of prescriptions, patient letters, or other materials confirming the customer’s mental health situation, might be used instead.
- Finally, if the DMHEF has to be used, consideration should be given to the instructions and support given to the customer – what help might they need to get the DMHEF completed?
What is new in this version of the DMHEF?
- This is the fourth version of the DMHEF. It replaces all previous versions.
- This version of the DMHEF is simpler and shorter for health and social care professionals to complete than previous versions.
- A range of health and social care professionals are eligible to complete the DMHEF – ranging from social workers to mental health therapists.
- The front side of the DMHEF now simply asks for the professional to confirm if the customer has a mental health condition, and to give the name of this condition.
- The reverse side of the DMHEF provides an optional space for the professional to provide further information about the customer – including, for example, how the mental health condition might affect the person’s ability to manage their money.
- Please remember that no health or social care professional is legally required to complete the DMHEF – it remains (a) their choice to do so and (b) their choice which questions they answer (if they do agree to complete it).
- Professionals who request payment
Professionals who request payment.
- One reason for creating version four of the DMHEF was to end the practice of some General Practitioners in England requesting such a payment.
- If the GP is working in England and they agree to complete the DMHEF then they must do so without charge. This is part of their contract with NHS England, and is required under the following regulatory document: National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.
- If the GP is working in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, they can ask for payment to complete the DMHEF. This situation may, however, change in the future.
- However, please remember that most health and social care professionals will not request payment to complete the DMHEF.
Who created this version of the DMHEF?
This version was created by the Money Advice Trust and Money and Mental Health Policy Institute in partnership with the British Medical Association, Credit Services Association, Department of Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and UK Finance. Prior to this, the DMHEF was overseen by the Money Advice Liaison Group.
Information and downloads for debt advisers
This page briefly introduces the DMHEF. A more detailed user guide can be downloaded, along with the full set of DMHEF materials below.
Adviser user guides
If you offer case management
Download the case management user guide
If you offer assisted self-help
DMHEF form
Adviser DMHEF consent forms
DMHEF consent form for case-management
DMHEF Consent Form for assisted self-help
What is the DMHEF?
- The Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF) is a form that only health and social care professionals can complete.
- The DMHEF is sometimes used when an organisation that is owed money needs evidence to confirm that a customer has a mental health problem.
- When this happens, the customer (or someone authorised to act on their behalf) approaches a health or social care professional to complete the DMHEF.
- The completed DMHEF is then shared with the organisation that is owed money. Along with other information, it is used to help decide what action to take.
Who can use the DMHEF?
The DMHEF can be used by:
- organisations who are owed money (to help them decide what action to take)
- debt advisers (to negotiate with organisations that a client owes money to)
- people with mental health and debt problems (with the help of a debt adviser).
The DMHEF cannot be completed without the consent and help of the person with the mental health problem (or someone formally authorised to act on their behalf).
When should the DMHEF be used?
- Before using the DMHEF, creditors should ask themselves whether evidence actually does need to be collected? This involves considering whether further evidence is really needed to take fair and proportionate action.
- If further evidence really is needed, creditors should ask themselves whether alternative evidence is available which could do the same job as the DMHEF? This includes considering whether copies of prescriptions, patient letters, or other materials confirming the customer’s mental health situation, might be used instead.
- Finally, if the DMHEF has to be used, consideration should be given to the instructions and support given to the customer – what help might they need to get the DMHEF completed?
What is new in this version of the DMHEF?
- This is the fourth version of the DMHEF. It replaces all previous versions.
- This version of the DMHEF is simpler and shorter for health and social care professionals to complete than previous versions.
- A range of health and social care professionals are eligible to complete the DMHEF – ranging from social workers to mental health therapists.
- The front side of the DMHEF now simply asks for the professional to confirm if the customer has a mental health condition, and to give the name of this condition.
- The reverse side of the DMHEF provides an optional space for the professional to provide further information about the customer – including, for example, how the mental health condition might affect the person’s ability to manage their money.
- Please remember that no health or social care professional is legally required to complete the DMHEF – it remains (a) their choice to do so and (b) their choice which questions they answer (if they do agree to complete it).
- Professionals who request payment
Professionals who request payment
- One reason for creating version four of the DMHEF was to end the practice of some General Practitioners in England requesting such a payment.
- If the GP is working in England and they agree to complete the DMHEF then they must do so without charge. This is part of their contract with NHS England, and is required under the following regulatory document: National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.
- If the GP is working in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, they can ask for payment to complete the DMHEF. This situation may, however, change in the future.
- However, please remember that most health and social care professionals will not request payment to complete the DMHEF
Who created this version of the DMHEF?
This version was created by the Money Advice Trust and Money and Mental Health Policy Institute in partnership with the British Medical Association, Credit Services Association, Department of Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and UK Finance. Prior to this, the DMHEF was overseen by the Money Advice Liaison Group.
What is the DMHEF?
- The Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF) is a form that only health and social care professionals can complete.
- The DMHEF is sometimes used when an organisation that is owed money needs evidence to confirm that a customer has a mental health problem.
- When this happens, the customer (or someone authorised to act on their behalf) approaches a health or social care professional to complete the DMHEF.
- The completed DMHEF is then shared with the organisation that is owed money. Along with other information, it is used to help decide what action to take.
Who completes the DMHEF?
The DMHEF can only be completed by a health or social care professional.
This includes social workers, nurses, general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health therapists, or other health or social care professionals.
The DMHEF should not be completed by the person with the mental health problem, or their family or friends.
The person with the mental health problem chooses this health or social care professional. This professional should be someone who knows the person with a mental health problem, and can provide information about them.
What does the person with a mental health problem do?
- Most people will have been asked to complete the DMHEF by an organisation – this will either be:
- a debt adviser who is helping the person with their money situation
- an organisation the person owes money to (e.g. a bank, a lender, or another firm)
- Where this happens, the person with the mental health problem should have been given instructions to follow by the debt adviser or the organisation owed money.
- The person therefore needs to follow these instructions – they will tell the person exactly what to do. They are important and need to be followed carefully.
- If the person does not have these instructions, then they should contact the debt adviser, or the organisation owed money, and ask for these.
I wasn’t given the DMHEF by anyone – what do I do?
- We do not recommend that you use the DMHEF independently.
- The reason for this is that many organisations will help you without a completed DMHEF. If you tell the organisation you owe money about your mental health situation they may not need a completed DMHEF. This will save you a lot of time.
- However, if you still want to use the DMHEF, then we strongly recommend that you get guidance from a debt adviser.
- Getting help from a debt adviser will make the process easier and clearer – the contact details for advice services are provided below. You can find a service to speak to over the telephone, via webchat, or face-to-face.
I’m helping someone with the DMHEF – what do I do?
If you are helping someone with a mental health problem to get the DMHEF completed, then follow the instructions given to them by the organisation owed money, or a debt adviser.
- If the person does not have these instructions, then they should contact the debt adviser, or the organisation owed money, and ask for these.
- The person will need to complete and sign a Consent Form that they should have been given by the debt adviser or organisation owed money. If they do not do this, the health and social care professional should not complete the DMHEF.
- If you have the authority (e.g. Power of Attorney) to sign the Consent Form for the person with a mental health problem, you will need to attach a copy of that authority to the Consent Form. If you do not do this, the health and social care professional will not complete the DMHEF.
A professional has asked for a payment to complete the DMHEF.
No health or social care professional is legally required to complete the DMHEF – it remains (a) their choice to do so and (b) their choice which questions they answer (if they do agree to complete it).
- If you are ever asked for payment by a health or social care professional for them to complete the DMHEF you should:
- explain to the professional the real difference to your health and financial situation that completing the DMHEF could make
- explain that the reason the form is being completed is that you are in financial difficulty, and therefore you do not have the money to pay any charge.
- You should not personally make any payment for a DMHEF to be completed. Instead try to find another professional to complete the DMHEF. Or tell the organisation or debt adviser that gave you the DMHEF – they may be able to help.
- If you are in England, you should know that if a General Practitioner (GP) does agree to complete the DMHEF, then they must do so without charge. This is part of their contract with NHS England, and is required under the following regulatory document: National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.
- If you are outside of England, GPs can still ask for payment to complete the DMHEF. This situation may, however, change in the future.
I have a completed DMHEF – who do I sent it to?
- Follow the instructions you were given – this is really important.
- Please do not send the completed DMHEF to the Money Advice Trust, as we will not be able to do anything with the form – instead, send the form to your creditor(s) by following the instructions you were given.
Tip: if you owe money to more than one organisation, then make copies of the completed DMHEF and Consent Form. This will allow you to send a copy to each organisation that you owe money to. These organisations will then know about your situation, and can take this into account. When making these copies, you may wish to cover or black-out the name of the original creditor that you completed the DMHEF for.
I have a question that isn’t answered here – what do I do?
- You should speak to the organisation that gave you the DMHEF – they will be able to answer most questions you have about the DMHEF.
- If you have a debt adviser advising you, then speaking with them will also help.
- If you have decided to use the DMHEF on your own, then we strongly recommend that you get the help of a debt adviser. The contact details for advice services are provided below. You can find a service to speak to over the telephone, via webchat, or face-to-face.
Who created this version of the DMHEF?
This version was created by the Money Advice Trust and Money and Mental Health Policy Institute in partnership with the British Medical Association, Credit Services Association, Department of Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and UK Finance. Prior to this, the DMHEF was overseen by the Money Advice Liaison Group.
Debt advice agencies
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org
- Business Debtline – 0800 197 6026 www.businessdebtline.org
- Citizens Advice – 03444 111 444 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- StepChange Debt Charity – 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org
- Christians Against Poverty – 01274 760720
www.capuk.org