I have a client who has been sick for years with depression, however they receive income support because they have children.

I'm looking to try and get them some more money and I am currently completing a DLA form. However I have read the criteria for the Disability Premium in the CPAG book page 833 which says "if you consider you have been incapable for 364/196 days or more, but you have not previously been certified or assessed as incapable you should claim IB. You do not have to be awarded IB, you only have to show that you have been incapable of work. You should supply medical certificate covering the whole period". Does that mean that if my clients provides a certificate going back a year and makes a claim, she will be able to claim the Disability Premium in her income support?

Yes. But if one of a couple you might need to change the claimant. You also have to keep and eye on the implementation as ICB will turn down on the basis of insufficient contributions or late claim without realising what you are after. The procedure to follow is set out
very well on pages 16/17 of the Disability Rights Handbook.

Hi Donna to reiterate and add to chris's points
1. complete a sc1 incapacity benefit form
2. obtain a med 5 (it's pink) sick note from GP backdated for 52 weeks and a med 3 (it's whitish) ie sick note saying client not able to work for eg 6 months etc (if client has a care manager or community psychiatric nurse it might be worth liaising with them to get a med 5 from a mental health services doctor as some GP'S can be reluctant to supply one having said that so can some psychiatrists but i digress).
3.if as likely clients receives letter saying not eligible for incapacity benefit, tell them to keep sending in sick notes until DWP say they are no longer necessary.
4. if everything goes to plan ie GP or CMHT doctor if relevant supply sick notes etc you really will as Chris says need to spell it out to the DWP ie income support section that client has 52 weeks of incapacity credits etc to get them to pay the Disability premium.