completing benefits forms

Completing benefit forms

Some people with epilepsy are eligible for benefits, including Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Disabled Students Allowance. Here are some general suggestions and ideas that might be helpful if you are applying for benefits, and completing the benefits forms.

Who can claim benefits?

Not everyone with epilepsy will be eligible for benefits. As epilepsy is a condition that affects people in different ways, whether you are eligible or not depends on what your epilepsy is like and how it affects you.

There are several different benefits, and what you may be eligible for also depends on your personal circumstances (for example, whether you work or not). Contact the benefits enquiry line for more about different benefits. See contact details below for details.

This page gives you some things to think about when filling in your benefits forms. In general, forms need to completed with the ‘worst case scenario’ of what help you need and what could happen to you when you have a seizure. For some people it can be difficult or upsetting to focus on the risks due to their epilepsy and seizures, but it is important to help the person assessing the form to understand the risks and what could happen to you when you have a seizure.

There are organisations that can give you specific advice about how to apply for benefits, and may be able to help you to complete the forms.

Things to think about

Give as much information as possible

Think about your everyday routines: what you do, what you would like to do, and how your epilepsy affects this. Use your own words and experiences, and if you need to use extra sheets of paper for your answers put your name and reference number on each sheet.

Ask other people

If someone has seen your seizures they might be able to give you more information about what happens to you, you could include this on the form.

Before and after your seizures

What happens to you before and after a seizure? What is a risk to you at these times? For example, if you have a warning before a seizure, how long is it? Can you always get somewhere safe? Do you need to sleep and recover after a seizure? Where might you be when this happens?

About your seizures

• What happens during your seizures? For example, do you lose consciousness, is your awareness affected or do you become confused?
• How often do you have seizures?
• Do you get a warning (know when a seizure will happen)?
• Do you have any triggers for your seizures?
• When do you have seizures (in the day time, night time or both)? For example, do you wander around at night during seizures and need someone to keep you safe?
• Are you incontinent (wet yourself) during a seizure?
• Do you, or are you likely to, injure yourself during a seizure? Can you use examples of when this has happened to you? If you have reports from your GP or hospital about previous injuries, you could use these.
• Do you need help when you have a seizure? This might be to keep you safe, to help if you injure yourself, or to help as you recover from the seizure. What could happen if there is no one around to help? You may not always have someone with you, but it can be helpful to show that you need someone to be there, to keep you safe and avoid danger.

How does epilepsy affect your life?

• Does your epilepsy restrict your life, work or activities? If so, in what ways?
• Explain how your seizures affect you in general. Think about when you have a ‘bad’ or ‘difficult’ day: how does epilepsy affect you on these days? What would help?

Seizure diaries

If you keep a diary of your seizures, this might help to show how often you have seizures and what happens.

Do you need supervision

Do you need someone to be around to stop you from injuring yourself during a seizure? How could they help you? Inside and outside the home What are the risks to you if you have a seizure at home? For example, if you fall without warning, what are the risks when this happens? What about bathing: do you need to have a shower rather than a bath in case you have a seizure? What happens when you are at home may be different to what happens when you are outside. Think about different situations, such as gardening, shopping or using public transport: what could be a risk to you in these situations? If you have had any accidents or injuries you could use these as examples.

Medication

Do you take medication for your epilepsy? If so, does it affect you (for example, does it make you sleepy or drowsy)? Do you always remember to take your medication or do you need help to remind you?

Equipment and aids

Do you need any medical equipment? Have you had an occupational therapy or social services assessment? Do you need any special equipment, such as a seizure alarm, to help keep you safe?

Completing the form

Filling in benefit forms can be complicated. The forms can be very long and overwhelming. Here are some general suggestions which you may find helpful.

• The form may be date-stamped, and will say how long you have to complete and return it. The benefits may be back-dated (so you get payment from the date you get the form and not the date when you return it).
• Tackle the form in sections so it feels more manageable.
• Complete the form in pencil first, in case you want to change anything after you have written it.
• In general, it helps to concentrate on what people can do, rather than what they can’t do. However, on a benefits form it is important to focus on what you can’t do, or what you find difficult. It can be upsetting to concentrate on the negative impact of epilepsy, but it is important to show how your epilepsy makes things difficult for you, and the risks because of it.
• Remember that the person reading the form may not know much about epilepsy: explain what your epilepsy is like and how it affects you, and give as much information about your epilepsy as possible.
• Focus on what would happen if there wasn’t anyone around to support you when you have a seizure, and explain why this may be dangerous for you. You can write about how you need to have someone to help you when you have a seizure even if you don’t already have someone to help you.
• Use real examples to show how your epilepsy affects you. Think of a ‘bad day’ when you have had seizures and write about what happened. It is also important to think about what could have happened, such as if you had injured yourself or been in a dangerous situation.
• Include any additional information that might be helpful, such as medical or psychological reports.
• Keep repeating information every time an appropriate question is asked. Do not assume that the person reading the form will remember how you have answered one question when reading the next.
• Check the complete form after you have written it. Does it make sense when you read it all together? Have you used examples to explain how your epilepsy affects you? Remember, try to focus on how your epilepsy makes things difficult, rather than on how well you are coping with your epilepsy.
• Keep a copy of the form, in case you need to refer to it or update it if your circumstances change.
• If your application is refused you can appeal. It is often well worth appealing as appeals often have a higher success rate than initial applications.

Other organisations

Benefits Enquiry Line
Telephone: 0800 882 200

Citizens Advice Bureau
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Dial UK
Telephone: 01302 310 123
www.dialuk.info

Contact a Family (for parents and families)
Telephone: 020 7608 8700
www.cafamily.org.uk