From 1st October 2019, the Debt and Mental Health Evidence form (DMHEF) is changing. First launched in 2008 by the Money Advice Liaison Group, the 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.
A review was 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 which 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 at www.moneyadvicetrust.org/dmhef where further information about when and how the form can be used and downloadable copies of the form and associated documents can now be found.
This blog from the Money Advice Trust’s Chris Fitch highlights three changes you need to know about the DMHEF.