Once A Year Direct Financial Assistance

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia’s most resource-intensive initiative is our Direct Assistance Program. However, the administrative effort required to process these applications has tripled. Delays frequently occur because applicants submit incorrect Zelle information, fail to provide required medical documentation proving current epilepsy care, or send application materials in separate pieces.

To ensure equitable distribution, we have introduced new criteria requiring families to give back to their epilepsy community. Please see below for the changes in the requirements.

To apply for direct assistance, please provide:

• Patient’s name

• Home address

• Phone number

• Email address

• Neurologist or doctor’s name

• Your hospital or clinic name (where you go to see your doctor or neurologist)

• Photos of epilepsy medication bottle(s). This MUST show all of the following information:

  • your name

  • the name(s) of prescribed medication(s)

  • the refill date, which must be in the future

• Your preference of Zelle payment or paper check mailed to your address

  • If Zelle, fill out your name and phone number associated with your Zelle account. If a mistake is made, the money will not be received by you.

  • Please select Zelle payment ONLY IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A ZELLE SET UP. We cannot assist you in creating one!

  • Alternatively, if you prefer a check, it will take 1 to 3 business weeks to arrive. By selecting mailed check, you confirm that you agree to this timeline.

PLEASE NOTE:

Pictures need YOUR NAME, the MEDICATION NAME, and the FUTURE REFILL DATE. You may send multiple pictures (.png and .jpg filetypes only) as long as you include all info.

If your images of your medication do not have all of the required information, we cannot process your request, and you will need to resubmit your information and will be at the back of the line! Your neurologists name and hospital also has to be in your request. If clients have received assistance, you have to wait for the new fiscal year after JULY 1 BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY AGAIN.

NEW REQUIREMENT FOR REPEAT ASSISTANCE:

If you are requesting aid for the THIRD year or THIRD time or more, we now ask you to upload evidence that you have within the last 12 months:

• Volunteered at an EFVA event (Tour de Midnight, Winchester Race, bake sale, fundraiser, or any other EFVA-affiliated event)

• Raised or donated $50 to EFVA

• Assisted another epilepsy family or epilepsy hero in going to work or school

• Assisted another epilepsy family or epilepsy hero in getting to the neurologist

• Helped to advocate for epilepsy heroes in Virginia

• Contributed to or participated in EFVA support groups in a constructive way

• Conducted a fundraiser for EFVA

  To complete your direct assistance request, contact your local EFVA director (http://epilepsyva.com/ourteam) for a letter describing your volunteering.