Possible entitlements for people with epilepsy in England

The information in this section is about possible entitlements for people with epilepsy in the England.

If you have epilepsy and live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you can find information about possible entitlements for you on different pages of this website

If you live outside the UK, you can find out about entitlements in your country by contacting your local epilepsy group.

In this section

• Introduction
• Free prescriptions
• The Disabled Persons Railcard
• Free bus fares
• Access to work
• Welfare benefits
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Attendance Allowance (AA)
• Further information

Introduction

These web pages aim to provide an overview of entitlements that may be available for people with epilepsy who live in England.  

Free prescriptions

If you have epilepsy and take daily anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), you are entitled to free prescriptions. This is for all your prescription drugs, not just your AEDs.

How to get free prescriptions

Ask for application form FP92A from your doctor's surgery. You need to fill in parts 1 and 2. Your doctor, or a member of the practice staff, will sign to confirm the information you’ve given is correct. They will then send for an exemption certificate for you.

Reclaiming prescription costs

If you don’t have your exemption certificate yet, you will have to pay for your prescriptions. You will be able to claim the money back, once your exemption certificate arrives. To do this, you will need to get receipt form FP57 from the pharmacist when you pay for the prescription. There is information on FP57 that tells you how to claim the refund.

For more information about prescription charges contact NHS Choices Tel: 0845 850 1166, www.nhs.uk 

The Disabled Persons Railcard

If you have epilepsy and take anti-epileptic drugs you can apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard if you either:

• Still have seizures even though you take epilepsy medication;or
• You don't qulalify for a driving licence because of your epilepsy 

You will need to pay for this, but it will save you money if you regularly travel by train.
 
The railcard gives an adult a discount of up to a third on a range of rail tickets. The same discount also applies to one adult who is with the railcard holder.

Children aged from five to 15 can qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard. The child named on the railcard will pay the normal child’s fare. An adult travelling with them can then claim a discount of one third off their own fare.

You can get an application form for a Disabled Persons Railcard from some railway stations, online at www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk, by phoning Rail Travel made Easy on 0845 605 0525, or by calling the Epilepsy Helpline.

Free bus fares

The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 gives free travel in England for people who are eligible for a free bus pass.

The Act does not set age limits for people who are entitled to a free pass. This means that all disabled adults, children and young people of fare paying age may qualify for a free pass.

You will be able to use your free bus pass anywhere in England after 9.30 am and all day at weekends and bank holidays. In some local authorities, you will also be able to travel free locally at other times of the day. Some local authorities also include discounted or free travel on local trains in their free bus pass.

Eligibility for a free bus pass

If you have epilepsy, you would be eligible for a free bus pass if: 

• you would be refused a driving licence if you applied for one, or
• you have been awarded the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for at least one year, or
• you have been issued with a disabled person’s parking badge (Blue Badge Scheme).

Showing proof of being eligible for a free bus pass

• If you are not now eligible for a driving licence, you could show the DVLA letter that tells you not to drive.
• If you have not had a driving licence, your local authority can seek independent medical evidence. You should not have to pay anything for this.
• If you get the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, you will need a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions. It should show that you get this benefit.
• If you have a Blue Badge, you could show the latest V11 vehicle licensing reminder from DVLA. This will show the ’disabled’ taxation class.

More information about free bus passes

More information about the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 Act is available from the Department for Transport Enquiry Helpdesk on 0300 330 3000.

For more information about free bus passes in your area, please contact your local passenger transport executive or local authority (details in your local Phone Book).

Access to work

Access to work can help you if your epilepsy affects the way you do your job. It might pay towards a support worker or any special equipment you need at work. It can also pay towards the cost of getting to work if you can’t use public transport

You can get further information from the Directgov website

Welfare benefits

If you have difficult to control epilepsy and/or other disabilities, you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance. If you are over the age of 65 you may be entitled to Attendance Allowance.

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is awarded to children and to adults aged 64 or under, who have care needs and/or mobility needs. Here are some reasons why you may qualify for DLA if you have epilepsy.

Care needs

• You need someone to keep an eye on you during the day or night, to make sure that you are safe.
• You need to have help from someone through the night to help you during, or after, a seizure.
• You are unable to safely cook yourself a meal.

Mobility needs

• You need someone with you when you are in an unfamiliar place, to guide or help you.

You could need help with care or mobility because of your medical condition and/or any treatment you are having.

DLA is paid at different rates depending on how your epilepsy affects you. To qualify, you must have needed help for at least three months. You should need this help for at least another six months.

DLA is tax-free and isn’t affected by any other income or savings you have.

Epilepsy Action has a guide to claiming Disability Living Allowance. If you would like to receive a copy, please ring the Epilepsy Helpline .

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance (AA) is similar to the care component of Disability Living Allowance. It is awarded to adults aged 65 and over, who have care needs. It’s paid at different rates depending on how your epilepsy affects you.

You could need help with care because of your medical condition and/or any treatment you are having.
 
AA is tax-free and isn’t affected by any other income or savings you have.

Further information about benefits

The following organisations can provide more information about your eligibility to receive welfare benefits, filling in forms, and possibly help with appeals.

• Benefits Agency,
  Tel. 0800 44 11 44
• Cerebra (Foundation for the Brain Injured Child)
  Information about claiming DLA for children
  Tel. 0126 724 4200 www.cerebra.org.uk
• Citizens Advice Bureau
  For details of your local branch, tel. 020 7833 2181
  www.adviceguide.org.uk
• Dial UK (Disability Information and Advice Line Services)
  Tel. 01302 310 123 www.dialuk.org.uk
• Disability Alliance
  Tel. 020 7247 8776 www.disabilityalliance.org