Benefits information for people with epilepsy in Northern Ireland

Contents

• Free prescriptions
• Half fare travel on buses and trains
• Access to Work
• Welfare benefits
• Organisations that offer benefits advice

Free prescriptions

All NHS prescriptions are free of charge in Northern Ireland.

Half fare travel on buses and trains

If you have epilepsy, you may qualify for a Half Fare SmartPass. This will entitle you to half price fares on scheduled bus and rail services operating within Northern Ireland. 

You would qualify for a Half Fare SmartPass if you have been, or would be, refused a driving licence because of your epilepsy. You would also qualify if you have had your driving licence revoked because of your epilepsy. You may qualify in this way, if you are aged between 17 and 59. 

Epilepsy Action has more information about epilepsy and driving.

You would also be eligible for a Half Fare SmartPass if you have been awarded the higher or lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). You must be aged between 16 and 59, and have received DLA for at least the last 12 months.

How to apply for a Half Fare SmartPass

Here are some ways that you can get an application form.

• In person, from any manned Translink bus or rail station
• By telephoning 0845 600 0049
• By sending an email to callcentre@translink.co.uk You should provide your name and full address, including post code

Access to Work (NI)

The Access to Work (NI) scheme is available to help disabled people who wish to take up employment. It can also help disabled people who are in work and experiencing difficulties because of their disability. A grant from the scheme might pay towards any equipment you need at work or adapt premises to meet your needs. It can also offer help with getting to and from work, if you cannot use public transport.

For more information about the Access to Work (NI) scheme, contact an Employment Service Adviser in your local Jobs and Benefits office or JobCentre.

Here are ways you can find details of your local office:

• Tel: 0800 353 530
• Website: www.nidirect.gov.uk

Welfare benefits

If you have difficult to control epilepsy or other disabilities, you may be entitled to receive certain welfare benefits. These include: 

• Disability Living Allowance (for people under 65)
• Personal Independence Payment
• Changes from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance (for people age 65 and over)

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is awarded to children and adults aged 64 or under, who have care needs and/or mobility needs. DLA is paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you. To qualify, you must have needed help for at least three months because of a severe physical or mental illness or disability. 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 that you have. It is paid on top of any other earnings or income.

Epilepsy Action has more information about claiming DLA. 

Personal Independence Payment

From 2013 a new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will replace Disability Living Allowance for disabled people aged 16 to 64.

Your entitlement to PIP isn’t based on your disability, but the help you may need because of your condition or disability. Your personal circumstances are taken into account and the impact that your condition or disability has on your ability to live independently.

The payment is tax-free and isn’t affected by any other income or savings that you have. It is paid on top of any other earnings or income, so you can claim it whether you are in or out of work.

Changes from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment

Aged under 16
There is no change for Disability Living Allowance for children up to 16 years of age - this will continue.

Aged 16 to 64
In the future, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for everyone aged 16 to 64.

If you already claim DLA, you don't need to do anything now. The Department for Work and Pensions will contact you between 2013 and 2016, to let you know when your DLA will stop. They will tell you when and how you should make a claim for PIP.

Aged 65 or over
If you are aged 65 and receive Disability Living Allowance, this will continue, as long as you still meet the entitlement conditions. You will not need to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

More information about PIP is available from the Directgov website: www.direct.gov.uk 

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance (AA) is awarded to adults aged 65 or over who need help with personal care, or supervision or watching over to keep them safe. It is paid at different rates depending on how the person’s disability affects them.

AA is tax-free and isn’t usually affected by any other income or savings that you have. It is paid on top of any other earnings or income.

If you get AA, you will not be affected by the introduction of Personal Independence Payment.

More information about Attendance Allowance is available from the Directgov website: www.direct.gov.uk  

Organisations that offer benefits advice 

Advice NI (the independent advice network)
An information service that gives advice about benefits. 
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim. 

Tel: 028 9064 5919
Website: www.adviceni.net

Benefit Enquiry Line
A confidential telephone advice and information service, providing general advice on benefits. They can also help you fill out claim forms for benefits.
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim
• making a claim. 

Freephone: 0800 220 674
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55

Cerebra
Cerebra have a free guide which takes you through each stage of applying for Disability Living Allowance for children.
Helps with:

• making a claim for a child.

Tel: 0800 328 1159
Website: www.cerebra.org.uk

Citizens Advice
CAB gives free, confidential, impartial and independent advice about your rights, including benefits. They can also help you fill out claim forms for benefits.
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim
• making a claim
• appealing against a decision about your benefits. 

Tel: 0207 833 2181 (for details of your local branch)
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland

Directgov
This website has lots of information about all the different benefits that are available.
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim.

Website: www.direct.gov.uk (go to the Money, tax and benefits section)

Disability Rights UK
This website has a number of free factsheets you can download. It offers basic information about benefits, tax credits, social care and other disability related issues for claimants and advisers.
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim.

Website: www.disabilityrightsuk.org (go to the Ways we can help section)

Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission
Can help you to find a legal aid solicitor.
Helps with:

• appealing against a decision about your benefits. 

Website: www.nilsc.org.uk