Epilepsy Scotland’s digital Welfare Rights Service

Aim

To ensure people with epilepsy receive the appropriate level of disability benefit and tax relief they are entitled to.

The Epilepsy Scotland Welfare Rights Service is the only specialist service for people with epilepsy in the UK. We provide 1:1 advice and support on claiming financial entitlements and navigating the benefits system and support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

A diagnosis of epilepsy touches many different areas of a person’s life. As well as seizures, people can experience mental health and financial difficulties due to loss of employment. 

This project ensures people with epilepsy receive the disability benefit they are entitled to. Reducing poverty, saving health expenditure, and supporting people with epilepsy to live healthier lives.

“I am a carer for a person with dementia, Epilepsy Scotland gave me full support and confidence to claim Carers Allowance enabling me to have financial support and peace of mind in my carer's role.”

 “I do not know where I would be without the support of my Welfare Rights Officer, she helped me open up about my health and understanding of the full process I was about to take with my claim. She helped me explain my epilepsy and how it affects me in full detail, and this made my claim more successful than I expected at the start.”

 “I really want to thank you for all the amazing help and advice you have given me and my family. The support has been invaluable. Epilepsy Scotland and you personally are doing amazing work and can't thank you enough for that."

Direct beneficiaries are people living with epilepsy that restricts or prevents them from working, these people often living in poverty and come to us at crisis point sometimes suicidal. As well as financial crisis many will have other mental health and physical health needs and we have an in-house wellbeing team and work with the NHS and other services to ensure people get the financial and wellbeing support they need. 

Indirect beneficiaries are direct family members including parents, spouses, and children. Many of whom will be carers for their loved one with epilepsy.  As well as families benefitting from increased or regained household income, we provide family support via our Helpline and Information Service and free training courses to help people understand epilepsy and how to support their loved one, including administering emergency medication. 

 We are seeking funding towards the cost of our digital Welfare Rights Service, so we can reach more people across Scotland. 

 Clients report that the support of the Welfare Rights Officers had a positive impact on their ability to self-manage their epilepsy during the claims/assessment process and feedback suggests that this service had a positive impact on the ability people with epilepsy to:

•  undertake and complete the benefits assessment process 
• prepare, gather evidence, and effectively communicate their condition in forms and at assessments/appeals 
• continue to self-manage their condition during the claims/assessment process
• manage the transition of welfare provision from the DWP to a Scottish Social Security Agency

 The total Client Financial Gain generated by the service since its inception in September 2017 and 31 March 2022 was £5.94 million. 

 This service contributes to our overall charity vision and Scottish national outcomes including:

• Public Health Scotland: A Scotland where everybody thrives
• Health and Social Care Scotland priority: Promote healthy, independent living
• Public health priorities for Scotland – A Scotland where we have a sustainable, inclusive economy with equality of outcomes for all and A Scotland where we have good mental wellbeing.

This project successfully funded on 20th September 2022