Benefits information for people with epilepsy in Scotland

In this section

• Free prescriptions
• The Disabled Person's Railcard
• Free bus travel
• Access to work
• Welfare benefits

Free prescriptions

If you live in Scotland, are registered with a doctor in Scotland, and get your prescriptions from a pharmacy in Scotland, you are entitled to free prescriptions. 

If you have a prescription from Northern Ireland or Wales, you can still get these dispensed free of charge in Scotland. 

If you have a prescription from England, you will have to pay for this in Scotland, unless you have an Entitlement Card. This card confirms that you are entitled to get prescriptions free of charge. 

You can apply for an Entitlement Card from NHS National Service Scotland, tel. 0141 300 1300 or 0131 275 6000.

The Disabled Person’s Railcard

If you have epilepsy, you are eligible for a Disabled Person’s Railcard if you either:

• still have seizures even though you take epilepsy medicine; or
• you are not allowed to drive because of your epilepsy 

You will need to pay for a Disabled Person’s Railcard, but it will save you money if you regularly travel by train.

Adults get a discount of up to a third on a range of rail tickets. One person travelling with you will get the same discount as you.

Children aged from five to 15 years will pay the normal child’s train fare. However, if a child has a Disabled Person’s Railcard, one adult who is travelling with them can then claim a discount of one third off their own adult’s fare.

You can get an application form for a Disabled Person’s Railcard from any of the following places.

• Some railway stations
• www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
• Rail Travel made Easy, tel: 0845 605 0525
• Epilepsy Action

Free bus travel

If you have epilepsy, you may qualify for a National Entitlement Card. This card will allow you to travel free on most local and national bus services in Scotland throughout the day. Depending on where you live, you may also be entitled to free rail travel.

You would qualify for a National Entitlement Card if you would be refused a driving licence because of your epilepsy. More information about epilepsy and driving is available from Epilepsy Action.

You are also eligible for a National Entitlement Card if you are aged five or over and you receive Disability Living Allowance under the higher rate of mobility or higher/middle rate of care.

For more information about how to get your National Entitlement Card, contact your local authority or SPT travel centre. A list of these is available on the Transport Scotland website. Alternatively, contact the Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing Unit, Transport Scotland, tel: 0141 272 7170.

There are reasons why you may qualify for a National Entitlement Card other than epilepsy. Contact the Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing Unit for more information.

Access to Work

Some people who can’t drive because they have epilepsy, may be entitled to help with the additional costs of travel to and from work, and also travelling while at work. This comes under the Access to Work scheme.

You apply by ringing the number for Scotland is 0141 950 5327.

The interview is conducted over the phone and will take about 15 – 20 minutes. It is possible to ask for a call back.

More information on the Access to Work scheme: www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview

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, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance.

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.

Organisations that offer benefits advice

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 88 22 00
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 Scotland
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: 0808 800 9060 (For advice by telephone)
Tel: 0207 833 2181 (for details of your local branch)
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland

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)

Scottish Legal Aid Board
Can help you to find a legal aid solicitor.
Helps with:

• appealing against a decision about your benefits.

Tel: 0845 122 8686
Website: www.slab.org.uk

Turn2us
A confidential service which helps you to find out about benefits and grants you may be entitled to.
Helps with:

• finding out if you can make a claim.

Freephone: 0808 802 2000
Website: www.turn2us.org.uk