Depression and esa/pip

Hi sas401,
PIP requires you to show that you have been disabled for 3 months and are likely to remain disabled for a further 9 months, ESA is given if you are sufficiently unwell that you can not work and or do work related activity.
You don't say if this is an initial claim, but I assume so but clearly there is a slightly different ethos for each benefit.

I dont think you necessarily have to mention the divorce unless this has affected or perhaps even aggravated the other symptoms. Maybe the depression has actually been a prime cause of the divorce? Perhaps the divorce indicates problems with behaviour that could relate to either PIP or ESA descriptors. If the divorce is in any way relevant then explain it, and use it to promote relevant descriptors.
Likewise, especially for PIP, difficulties might now occur because a vital carer or part of care network is now missing - this could then be relevant to functioning ability if more tasks now have to be done but can't actually be done.
I don't remember an actual question about explanation of personal circumstances on either form. That said it is the sort of thing that may be asked at an assessment, so it is likely to become known to DWP. (Assessments often start with a couple of questions about home life and family set up.)
So, if relevant mention the divorce, if not then there is no requirement to mention it.

I hope this helps.
LL26