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What’s the debt and mental health evidence form (DMHEF)?

The debt and mental health evidence form (DMHEF) is a form that can help your creditors to understand any mental health issues you may be experiencing. It allows creditors to receive information about you from your doctor or health professional with your consent.

It may mean that your creditors are more considerate of your personal circumstances when contacting you about your debts.

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Download a DMHEF here (PDF)
Give this blank form to a health or social-care professional to fill in.

Once your creditor receives your completed form, they must make appropriate adjustments to their collections process, and take your specific case into account. In our experience, most creditors show more understanding if they receive a detailed and well-written DMHEF.

If you want a health professional to complete a DMHEF for you, you’ll also need to complete a consent form. This form confirms that you’re happy for them to send on your medical information to your creditors.

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Download a consent form here (PDF)
Complete and sign this form before giving it to your health or social-care professional.

The DMHEF and the consent form have been approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office and carry the Plain English Campaign’s Crystal Mark. It’s also recognised by the FCA, the organisation that regulates the credit industry.

If you have a mental health problem and you’re struggling with debt, we can help. Our team of experts can offer free advice online or over the phone, based on your situation.

How to complete a debt and mental health evidence form

  1. The first step is to complete and sign a consent form.
  2. You must then give this consent form, along with a blank copy of the DMHEF, to either your GP, or another qualified professional who is able to give detailed advice on your mental health problems. This could be a nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker.
  3. You should ask the professional to complete the full DMHEF in full and return it to you. The DMHEF must be stamped by the professional, otherwise it is not able to be used.
  4. All the questions on the form should be completed in full, but question 4 is particularly important:
  • Q4. Does the person have a mental health problem that affects their ability to manage their money?

This question should be answered ‘yes’, giving as much detail as possible about how your condition makes it harder for you to manage your money.

Will a debt and mental health evidence form write off my debt?

While creditors will show more consideration to you once they receive your DMHEF, it’s very rare that they’ll write off debt simply on the basis of the DMHEF.

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Find out more about asking creditors to write off your debt.
Creditors may agree to write off a debt, or part of it, depending on your situation.

Do I have to pay for a DMHEF?

In the past, some doctors have charged a fee of up to £100 to complete a DMHEF. In February 2019 the government announced that this practice should stop.

Getting free debt help if you have a mental health problem

If you have a mental health problem and you’re also struggling to manage your debts, you should get in touch with us straight away for free, impartial debt help. When you contact us, the more you can tell us about both your mental health problems and your difficulties with debt, the better we’ll be able to help you.

We can give you advice on whether you need a DMHEF or not. We can send a copy of the form to you by email, or by post if necessary, and we’ll give you all the guidance you need to get the form completed so you can send it to your creditors. You can also get practical advice and information on how to cope with debt and stress.

Rebecca, Mid Glamorgan

Our clients' stories

"I was suffering from anxiety because I felt like I had no control over my finances." Lucy, London

Frequently asked questions

What is a debt and mental health evidence form?

This is a form that can be completed by a health or social care professional. You can then use it to tell creditors about your personal circumstances.

If you feel a creditor isn’t treating you fairly and they know you have a mental health condition, you can make a complaint about them.

Find out about making complaints about creditors.

How does debt affect mental health?

Debt can cause stress and anxiety. Many of our clients tell us they had problems sleeping before seeking help with their debts.

Many people feel overwhelmed, frustrated and exhausted. It’s important to recognise the signs of debt stress.

We've put together a six-step guide to help anyone who feels weighed down by money worries.

How do you sort out debt problems?

The first step is recognising that you have a problem that needs to be dealt with. Don’t be afraid to seek help, but make sure it’s from a trusted source, such as a free debt advice charity like StepChange.

We will look at your income and spending, to get a clear picture of your financial situation. Then we’ll be able to recommend debt solutions that are best suited to your circumstances, supporting you for as long as you need our help.

Find out more about how we can help you with debt problems.

Can you really get debt written off?

If your creditors think it’s unlikely that they’ll recover the debt, they might consider writing it off. This could be because you’re living with a long-term condition that makes it difficult to deal with your debt problems.

They will always ask for proof, such as details from a doctor or social worker outlining any relevant problems.

Find out more about debt write off.