What help is available?
Financial help
Free prescriptions
People with epilepsy are able to receive free prescriptions for their anti-epileptic medication, and also for other prescribed drugs (but not dental treatment or eye tests). To apply for free prescriptions, fill in the form FP92A, (or EC92A in Scotland, FP92W in Wales or HC11B in Northern Ireland), from your doctors’ surgery or pharmacy.
Travel costs for medical appointments
If you are on a low income or receive benefits you may be able to claim back some of your costs of travelling to some medical appointments, under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. For more information contact your hospital, local Jobcentre Plus, or call 0845 850 1166.
Access to work
If you are unable to use public transport because of your epilepsy, you may be able to get financial help towards the cost of your transport to and from work, as part of the Access to Work (AtW) scheme. For further information and for details of your nearest AtW Team, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/ (opens in a new window).
Discounted bus, train and coach travel
England: People with disabilities are now eligible for a free national bus pass. This can be used between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays, anywhere in England.
For a free pass, people with epilepsy are classed as ‘disabled’ if they would be refused a driving licence if they applied for one. So, if you have had a seizure in the last year and so wouldn’t be allowed to drive, then you should be eligible for a free pass. If you need a letter from a doctor to confirm that you are eligible, then you may have to pay for this.
How do I get a free pass?
Contact your local council for an application form. If you already have a bus pass that covers your local area, your local council will contact you. Visit: www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport for more information.
If you live in London and have a Freedom Pass then you do not need a new pass until 2010. However, you will need a sticker to go on your freedom pass to allow you free off-peak travel outside London.
Visit www.freedompass.org for more information.
Scotland: If you have had a seizure within the last 12 months, you are entitled to a Scotland-wide free bus pass. This also applies to children with epilepsy aged 5-17 years. You can get an application form from your local council (or the Travel Card Unit if you live in Strathclyde). The Epilepsy Scotland Helpline (0808 800 2200) can also send you the forms.
Wales: People with disabilities are eligible for free bus travel throughout Wales. This allows you to travel at any hour of the day, with no restrictions on peak or off peak hours. Visit www.direct.gov.uk for more details.
Other transport: You may also be able to get a disabled person’s railcard. This card gives you, and a companion, a third off most fares. Call 0845 605 0525 or visit www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
Some coach operators, such as National Express, offer half-fare schemes for people with disabilities. Contact the companies directly for more details.
If you live in the Merseyside area you may be able to get a pass for free travel on rail, buses and ferries around the area. Contact Merseytravel on 0151 236 6056 for more details.
Benefits
Having epilepsy does not automatically mean you will be entitled to benefits. This depends on what your epilepsy is like and how it affects you. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) are benefits that do not depend on your income, or whether or not you work. In general, DLA is for people who are under 65 and AA for those over 65. To be entitled to one of these benefits you need to have ‘care needs’ or ‘mobility needs’, which may include the need for supervision.
The following organisations have information on how to claim for benefits.
- The Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 provides advice and information for disabled people and carers on the range of benefits available and may be able to help you with completing the forms.
- DIAL UK has independent, trained benefits advisors who may also be able to help with completing forms. Call 01302 310 123 (10am - 4pm) to find your nearest branch or visit www.dialuk.info (opens in a new window)
- Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has information on benefits. Look in your local Phone Book or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk (opens in a new window) for your local branch
- www.direct.gov.uk (opens in a new window) is a Government site with information on benefits.
Working Tax Credit
This credit is a payment for working people on low incomes, and depends on the benefits a person receives. For more information and an application form call the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900. Forms are also available from your local council offices and Jobcentre Plus offices.
VAT exemption
Some equipment is designed specifically to help people with disabilities, and these items do not include VAT. For more information, call the HM Customs and Excise National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk
Help from Social Services
Depending on what your epilepsy is like, you may be entitled to have an assessment of your needs. Contact your local social services department to ask for an assessment, or a health professional can ask for this on your behalf.
An assessment normally takes place in your home and looks at whether you have any physical difficulties, health needs, social recreation needs or housing needs, and what support you already receive, for example from family or friends. If the assessment identifies that you have care needs which meet the local authority’s criteria for community care services, then they have a duty to provide or arrange for provision of these services. Sometimes there will be a charge.
Community care services help people to live as independent and full a life as possible, and may include home help, adaptations to the home. Adaptations might include installing a shower or an alarm system, providing meals, and access to recreational activities.
Help for carers
If you are a carer for someone with a disability, and this is not paid or voluntary work, you may be able to receive some help, even if you are not living with the person you are caring for.
You may be entitled to a Carer’s assessment from your social services department. This may identify the need for home help, respite care, emotional support or other services. Some carers can claim Carer’s Allowance (see Benefits section fro agencies who can give more information).
There are organisations that support carers by giving information, providing respite care and campaigning for carers' rights.
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
The DDA protects people with disabilities from being treated unfairly because of their disability. This includes areas such as access to goods, facilities and services, education, and employment. Most people with epilepsy are covered by the Act, even if their seizures are controlled with medication.
For example:
- The DDA makes it unlawful for an employer to treat a person with a disability less favourably than another person due to their disability, unless there is a justifiable reason.
- A car insurance company may not quote a higher insurance premium for a person with epilepsy, simply because of their condition. As long as a person has a valid driving licence, epilepsy should not mean they have to pay more.
© National Society for Epilepsy
Information produced in November 2009
