In 2023, there were 63,142 PIP claimants with epilepsy listed as their main disabling condition. This makes it the thirteenth most common condition to get an award of PIP for out of over 500 conditions listed by the DWP.
So, if you have epilepsy and it affects your daily living activities, such as cooking, washing, dressing or mixing with other people or your ability to get around, you should definitely consider making a claim.
Success rates
The success rate for PIP claims for epilepsy is 54%, compared to an overall average of 53%. So you have a very slightly better than average chance of getting an award for epilepsy.
Award rates
31% of PIP claimants who have epilepsy, get the enhanced rate of both the daily living and the mobility component.
Daily living awards
Enhanced daily living 34%
Standard daily living 29%
No daily living 37%
Mobility awards
Enhanced mobility 91%
Standard mobility 5%
No mobility 4%
63% of claimants with who have epilepsy, who get an award, get the daily living component, compared to 96% who get the mobility component.
Age range
The ages of those currently in receipt of PIP for epilepsy are:
- 16-29 years 20%
- 30-49 years 41%
- 50-64 years 31%
- 65 and over 8%
PIP rates
The rates of PIP from April 2024 are:
Daily Living component
Standard rate: £72.65
Enhanced rate: £108.55
Mobility component
Standard rate: £28.70
Enhanced rate: £75.75
So, an award of the enhanced rate of PIP for both components means an extra £184.30 a week.
PIP is paid on top of almost every other benefit and may lead to an increase in some benefits or entitlement to additional benefits.
The enhanced rate of the mobility component also gives access to the Motability scheme.
Learn more or take the test
You can read more about claiming PIP for epilepsy or take our simple online test now to find out if you might be able to make a claim for PIP.
How you qualify for PIP
This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland – Scotland has a separate system. You need to be aged at least 16 before you can receive PIP and you need to start your claim before you reach state pension age.
The best way to decide whether you might be eligible for PIP is to look through this list of PIP activities and think about the ways that your condition affects your ability to carry them out. You are awarded points according to the level of difficulty you have with each of these activities, with sufficient points leading to an award of PIP.
Daily living activities
There are 10 daily living activities:
- Preparing food
- Taking nutrition
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- Washing and bathing
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence
- Dressing and undressing
- Communicating verbally
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- Engaging with other people face-to-face
- Making budgeting decisions
Mobility activities
There are two mobility activities:
- Planning and following journeys
- Moving around
Remember that you need to be able to complete the activities
- to a reasonable standard,
- safely,
- repeatedly
- taking no more than twice as long as it would take a person without a health condition.
Points for epilepsy
Below are some examples of the issues that you might have because of the effects of epilepsy. Do remember, that if you have other conditions, you can take those into account too.
You may need supervision when preparing food because of the risk of harming yourself with sharp knives or hot liquids or it may not be safe for you to prepare food at all, even with supervision. You may also have an impaired memory which means you are at risk of leaving pans on the heat and then forgetting about them.
You may need supervision when eating because of the risk of choking. You may need help with eating when you are recovering after a seizure.
You may have difficulties with concentration which mean that you need appliances such as a dosette box and timer or supervision in order to ensure you take the correct medication at the correct time.
You may need supervision when bathing because of the danger of falling in the shower or having a seizure in the bath.
You may need supervision in the toilet because of a risk of falling or you may need assistance to deal with episodes of incontinence.
Because of epilepsy, or the effects of your medication, you may have cognitive difficulties which mean that you need help to dress or it takes you more than twice as long to dress as someone who does not have epilepsy.
You may have difficulty expressing complex information because of the cognitive effects of seizures, expressive dysphasia or the medication you take. You may slur words or have difficulty finding the words you need.
Because of epilepsy or the effects of your medication you may have cognitive impairments which make it hard for you to follow written information , leading to you having to read it repeatedly and taking more than twice as long as someone without epilepsy.
You may need support to mix with other people because of the level of anxiety caused by fear that you may have a seizure in a social situation.
Because of epilepsy or the effects of your medication you may have cognitive impairments which make it hard for you to make decisions about money.
You may have cognitive impairments that make it difficult for you to plan a journey. You may be unable to drive because of epilepsy. You may also be unable to use public transport or walk in public spaces without being accompanied in case you have a seizure.
Whilst epilepsy may not prevent you from standing and then walking, you may have acquired injuries as a result of seizures that limit the distance you can walk.
Take the next step
Claiming PIP isn't easy. And getting the correct award is even harder.
But there are things you can do to greatly increase your chances of getting the right result.
One of them is to use our highly detailed, step-by-step Guide to PIP claims and reviews, which will support you through every stage of the system.
Because filling in the 37 page PIP2 ‘How your disability affects you’ form in as much detail as possible is vital.
It not only means you are giving accurate and consistent evidence from the outset, it also improves your chances of overturning an unfair decision if you have to go to appeal.
Our guide takes you through the PIP2 form, box-by-box, explaining the kind of information you need to put in each one.
Being fully prepared for an assessment is vital too. Knowing what questions you are likely to be asked and what unspoken assumptions may be made based on your answers, unless you deal with them, can make all the difference. Our guide will ensure you are as ready as you possibly can be.
And because we’ve been supporting claimants for 20 years and have a community of thousands of members who keep us updated with their experiences, we can make sure you are prepared for any unfair tactics the DWP might employ.
And we have guides to every other part of your PIP claim too, from mandatory reconsideration, to appeal to review. Plus a forum where you can ask questions, regular news items and more.
So, whether you’ve tried claiming PIP before and been unsuccessful, or you’ve never had any experience of the benefits system, join the Benefits and Work community to give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right award.
Even if you are not ready to subscribe to the site yet, you can download our guide to ‘The First Steps To PIP Success’ for free and also join the 120,000 people who subscribe to our free fortnightly newsletter.
Finally, if you have claimed PIP because of epilepsy, please share your experience - good or bad - with readers in the comments section below.
