The Scottish Government recently announced that 19 projects supporting people with neurological conditions are to benefit from a third round of funding.
As part of a five-year neurological care and support action plan, innovative projects which harness new techniques and technology will be helped with £1 million commissioned for work across Scotland. The award for 2022 to 2023 will also continue to support earlier projects as well as invest in new schemes.
These include a collaborative bid from the Migraine Trust and NHS Grampian to work with community, primary and secondary care pharmacists to help people with migraine manage their symptoms and treatments more effectively.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Partnership Delivery Group will also receive more than £100,000 to meet key Neurological Care and Support Framework commitments - helping people to live well and improving patient experience.
Epilepsy Scotland will receive more than £40,000 to improve mental health outcomes for people with epilepsy - a full list of projects can be found here.
At the time of the announcement, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Around one million people in Scotland live with a neurological condition and our neurological action plan provides a clear vision for those affected to be able to access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms.
“The allocation of this funding, as part of our £4.5 million investment over five years, will benefit a wide range of projects helping those living with epilepsy, Parkinson’s, ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.”
He added: “We know that migraine, which affects one in seven Scots, can have a hugely negative impact on the lives of those affected by it and this investment will enable the Migraine Trust and NHS Grampian to help those dealing with it.”
Financial support for people with neurological conditions
People over 16 and under State Pension age
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the new Adult Disability Payment (ADP) also provides financial support for people over 16 and under State Pension age living with a neurological condition, illness or disease.
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that 376,249 people across the UK are receiving financial support for some 70 conditions.
This includes:
- 40,371 claimants living in Scotland
- 310,277 claimants living in England
- 25,603 claimants living in Wales
Since the last statistical release, the DWP figures indicate an increase of 7,294 in the number of people receiving help for a neurological condition between October 2021 and January 2022.
Successful PIP or ADP claimants could receive between £24.45 and £156.90 each week, the benefits are paid every four weeks so this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
PIP payment rates 2022/23
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £92.40
- Standard: £61.85
Mobility Component
- Enhanced: £64.50
- Standard: £24.45
Find out more about claiming PIP here and ADP here.
People who have reached State Pension age
People of State Pension age or over are also receiving support for a neurological condition through Attendance Allowance.
The most recent data shows that 26,802 older people across the UK are getting financial support of either £61.85 or £92.40 each week from the DWP, depending on the level of support needed during the day or night.
This includes:
- 2,373 claimants living in Scotland
- 22,699 claimants living in England
- 1,646 claimants living in Wales
- 84 claimants living abroad
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental health condition, disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself, but it does not cover mobility needs.
You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim.
Find out more about Attendance Allowance here.
Neurological conditions supported through PIP, ADP and Attendance Allowance
This is the list of 70 neurological conditions being supported through PIP, ADP or Attendance Allowance.
A claimant’s main disabling or medical condition is recorded during their assessment. The categories and groupings are based on DWP data.
Cerebrovascular disease
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- Cerebrovascular disease - Other / type not known
- Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs)
Epilepsy
- Cataplexy
- Generalised seizures (with status epilepticus in last 12 months)
- Generalised seizures (without status epilepticus in last 12 months)
- Narcolepsy
- Partial seizures (with status epilepticus in last 12 months)
- Partial seizures (without status epilepticus in last 12 months)
- Seizures - unclassified
Non epileptic disturbance of consciousness
- Disturbances of consciousness - Non-epileptic - Other / type not known
- Drop attacks
- Non epileptic Attack disorder (pseudoseizures)
- Stokes Adams attacks (cardiovascular syncope)
- Syncope - Other / type not known
Movement disorders
- Blepharospasm
- Essential tremor - benign
- Huntington's disease
- Movement disorders - Other / type not known
- Parkinson's disease
- Parkinson's syndrome / Parkinsonism
- Torticollis
- Tourette's syndrome
- Writer's cramp
Multiple sclerosis
Benign tumours
- Neurofibromatosis
- Tumours - benign - Other / type not known
Hydrocephalus
Headache
- Dizziness - cause not specified
- Headache - Other causes of / cause not known
- Migraine
Head injury
- Head injury - Cognitive and sensorimotor impairment
- Head injury - Cognitive impairment
- Head injury - Sensorimotor impairment
Spinal cord compression
- Paraplegia (traumatic)
- Spinal cord compression - Other causes of / cause not known
- Syringomyelia / Syringobulbia
- Tetraplegia (traumatic)
Degenerative neuronal diseases
- Degenerative neuronal diseases - Other / type not known
- Motor neurone disease
Cerebral palsy
- Cerebral palsy - Ataxic
- Cerebral palsy - Athetoid
- Cerebral palsy - Diplegic
- Cerebral palsy - Hemiplegic
- Cerebral palsy - Other / type not known
- Cerebral palsy - Quadriplegic
Spina bifida
Ataxia
- Ataxia - Friedrich's
- Ataxias - Other / type not known
Neuropathy
- Charcot Marie Tooth disease
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Guillain Barre syndrome
- Neuropathies - Other / type not known including peripheral
Peripheral nerve injury
- Brachial plexus
- Peripheral nerve injury - Other / type not known
Disease of muscle
- Dermatomyositis
- Dystrophia myotonica
- Muscle - Other diseases of / type not known
- Myasthenia gravis
- Polymyositis
Muscular dystrophy
- Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy
- Muscular dystrophy - Becker type
- Muscular dystrophy - Duchenne
- Muscular dystrophy - limb girdle
- Muscular dystrophy - Other / type not known
Infections
- Creutzfeldt - Jacob disease (CJD)
- Infections - Other
- Poliomyelitis and post polio syndrome
- Prion diseases - Other / type not known
Other neurological disorders
- Neurological disorders - Other / type not known
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group here, follow Record Money on Twitter here, or subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter here.
