Recurrent seizures interfering with your ability to work?
Get Disability for Epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects more than 2 million people in the U.S. It’s caused by sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain, which triggers recurrent, unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy, or seizure disorder, can take on different forms and affect people in different ways. Some people stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure. Others may have convulsions or lose consciousness for several minutes.
Because seizures can occur without warning, people with epilepsy must be extremely careful when they are driving, cooking, swimming, or operating tools and heavy machinery. Many people, especially those who have multiple seizures each day, can no longer work.
That’s when a different kind of struggle sets in. No pay check and piles of medical bills can impact your ability to put food on the table and take care of your family. Thankfully, there’s an avenue for financial relief.
If you or a loved one suffers from seizure disorders and has been (or is expected to be) out of work for at least a year, you could be eligible for Social Security Disability for Epilepsy. If approved, you will receive a monthly Disability check and, quite possibly, accrued back pay.
Unfortunately, the process can be long and involved, especially if you try and handle it alone. Not only will you need a mountain of medical evidence, but you’ll have to navigate your way through a federal program governed by Disability law. Your best chance for success is to let our team handle it for you.
Our team can help you through this difficult time. We will handle the entire Social Security Disability process and work to get you the financial help you need. We’ll focus on getting you benefits. You just focus on your health.
How does the Social Security Administration determine who qualifies for Disability for Epilepsy?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that epilepsy can be debilitating and, in severe cases, it will award benefits during the initial application stage. To get approved at the onset of the process, you must meet specific criteria under one of two categories: convulsive epilepsy or nonconvulsive epilepsy.
Convulsive epilepsy is characterized by grand mal or psychomotor seizures that cause lack of consciousness. In order to qualify for benefits under this category, you must show that you have at least one seizure a month, despite taking at least three months of prescribed medication, and that you suffer from:
- Daytime seizures that involve convulsions or loss or consciousness, or
- Nighttime episodes that interfere with your ability to function the next day.
Nonconvulsive epilepsy is marked by petit ma or partial seizures. To qualify for benefits under this category, you must prove that:
- You have a least one seizure per week even though you have been taking prescribed medication for at least three months, and
- Your seizures significantly interfere with your daily activities or cause you to display abnormal behavior during the day.
Don’t meet the medical criteria for Disability for Epilepsy? Don’t despair.
If you don’t exactly meet the above criteria, don’t get discouraged. Many people won’t meet the Social Security Administration’s strict medical guidelines.
If you can show that your condition interferes with your daily activities to such an extent that you can’t consistently work any job, you can still qualify for Disability for Epilepsy. Convincing the SSA that you can’t work at all can be technical and complicated.
The agency will want all of your medical evidence, including results of neurological exams and descriptions of your seizures, as well as detailed information about your prescriptions and responses to treatment. It’s also extremely important to include documentation of any restrictions your doctor has placed on you, such as not driving or operating heavy or dangerous machinery.
Denied Disability for Epilepsy? Don’t lose hope.
Receiving a rejection letter can be disappointing, but it’s important not to lose hope. The truth is that most people are denied Disability during the initial application stage. Persistence is key.
Winning Disability benefits is usually a multi-step process, and the next step is to appeal your denied claim. You have to move fast, though. You only have 60 days to file an appeal for a denied Disability claim.
The Disability team at McDonald Law Firm can help you ― and you can afford us.
Because epilepsy can be treated with medication, it can sometimes be tricky to get approved for Disability for Epilepsy. Meeting the Social Security Administration’s strict criteria can be difficult and, as mentioned, your claim must be supported by solid, extensive medical documentation.
If the SSA doesn’t get the evidence they want, your claim will likely be denied. That’s why it is in your best interest to have the right tools for success.
The dedicated attorneys and professionals at McDonald Law Firm know what the SSA wants and how to get it. We will build the strongest, most persuasive case possible and handle your claim every step of the way.
The best part: You won’t pay us a penny up-front. We work on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we win. Even then, our fees are capped by the federal government.
Whether you want to file an initial application or appeal a denied Disability claim, we can help. We’ll handle the Disability process for you, but you have to take that first step. Call us today at 855-702-9061 or fill out the contact form on this page.
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