Epilepsy

Including: Seizure disorders

In order to be granted Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, the epilepsy must be affecting the claimant to the point that he or she would not be able to do any kind of work. Consider if there are any jobs that this person could reasonably take on without needing additional help or special treatment from the employer. Medical treatment, especially from a psychologist or psychiatrist will be almost essential to any epilepsy claim for Social Security disability benefits or SSI.

There are two types of epilepsy that have listings for Social Security disability. First is convulsive epilepsy with grand mal or psychomotor seizures. In order to meet this listing there must be more than one seizure per month in spite of 3 months of prescribed treatment that are either daytime episodes with loss of consciousness and convulsive seizures, or nocturnal episodes manifesting residuals which interfere significantly with daily activities. The other type is non-convulsive epilepsy with petit mal, psychomotor, or focal seizures. To meet the social security disability listing with this type of epilepsy there must be a typical seizure pattern occuring more than once weekly in spite of at least 3 months of prescribed treatment. There must also be an alteration of awareness or loss of consciousness and transient postictal manifestations of unconventional behavior or significant interference with activity during the day.

As with any disability, your chances of being granted increase if you have consistent medical records of your condition. If you have not seen any doctors within a few months of your application, you may be sent to a doctor who will evaluate your condition. It is best to have your own doctor.

If you are not sure whether or not your claim would qualify for benefits, give us a call. It is always best to get an application in if you are unsure. Some people wait so long that they lose their eligibility for Social Security, and many lose months of benefits for waiting to apply.

The medical listings that describe the criteria for Epilepsy are; 11.02 Epilepsy – convulsive epilepsy 11.03 Epilepsy- non-convulsive epilepsy – Adult.