**OK, this is specifically for people within the UK because i am English and i have very little idea about the options for those outside of the UK although if i do learn anything of value i will probably add a new page for it anyway.**

Within the UK it is possible for PWN to get Disability Living Allowance for the Narcolepsy (i believe this is still true if you present with N but no C)

It is difficult but possible eventhough Narcolepsy is not officially a disability within the UK (yes you read that right)

It is possible and apparently easier to fill out claims for Disability Living Allowance online ( here: DLA )

While filling it out it might seem that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill but you are not, you must think of everything you can't do because of your condition so for example, i can't cook for fear of the heat causing a cataplexy attack which is obviously dangerous in a kitchen. It might not seem like a lot but adding situations like this to your form will help those deciding on your form how N (and C) effect your every day life because they will not necessarily know what your condition is or what it means to you. For me it was almost easier to pretend that i was talking to a child ...

Carers allowance is also available for people that look after PWN, so long as you fit the criteria (Link: Carers Allowance website )

Also if you qualify for DLA it is also possible to qualify for working tax credit.

 eg. if you get lower or middle rate care DLA you get an extra £2400 per year tax credit, if you get higher rate care DLA it's even more than that.

If you don't work, but your partner claims WTC for both of you, or for the family, you also get the extra. You and/or your partner need to be working at least 16 hours a week, and earn less than £15,000 to qualify. I'm not sure if you get the disability element for yourself if you only get Child Tax Credit and not Working Tax Credit, but you do get the disability element if you have a child who qualifies for DLA and you get Child Tax Credit.

To find out if you might qualify, there's a really handy Tax Credits calculator here

But you must inform Tax Credits if you get DLA Care, it doesn't get added to your Tax Credits automatically.

If you have been getting DLA for some time, but didn't realise you could get extra Tax Credits, don't worry, find out the date you got awarded DLA from, then ring Tax Credits and tell them, it will get backdated right to when you first started getting DLA.

If you get DLA and your partner gets WTC you are also entiltled to an NHS excemption card for dentist, eye tests, prescriptions.

Also within each area, for public transport you are eligible for a free bus pass. It is a mobility bus pass and the website is dependent on the area that you live in. It entitles the holder to free travel on buses and trams and some help on trains ( within South Yorkshire this works out as free travel to a few minor stops around yorkshire ... better than nothing)

If you use www.google.co.uk and type in the name of your county and 'Disabled Bus Pass' then it should give you the site that you need for this.

Obviously i am no expert and this could be subject to change and circumstances - so don't take my word for it - go and check out the links and see what benefits you can get. I found it difficult at first to claim - not only because it is difficult to claim but also because i don't particularly like claiming benefits. I eventually came to the conclusion however that this is not giving up this is asking for a bit of help.

In some of these situations you will need to ask your doctor to write verifying claims or to agree with what you have stated etc but often this is not problematic especially if your doctor understands your situation.

hope you find this useful.