Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
General FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions.
Do I have to tell anyone that I have epilepsy?
Because of the Equality Act 2010, people with epilepsy do not have to tell anyone that they have epilepsy unless they want to.* So it is your choice who you tell, how you tell them and when you tell them.
Perhaps it is worth thinking about who you want to tell. It might be useful to tell people who you spend time with, so that they know how to help you if you have a seizure. When it comes to employment, there are some reasons why it is useful to tell your employers you have epilepsy. For example, so that they can help you if you have seizures, and so they can make reasonable adjustments to your working environment to make it safer for you if you have a seizure.
* An exception to this is if you drive a car - you do need to tell the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) if you have or have had seizures.
Can I get any financial help?
There are several areas where people with epilepsy may be able to get financial help. Some people with epilepsy are able to receive benefits - depending on how their epilepsy affects them. If you can't drive because you have epilepsy, you are eligible for some discounted travel schemes such as a disabled person's railcard. And people with epilepsy are able to receive their prescriptions free of charge.
© Epilepsy Society
Information updated in November 2012.
