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Seizures can seriously impact your ability to work

On Behalf of | Mar 28, 2019 | Social Security Disability Benefits For Illnesses

Millions of people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, a disorder in which abnormal electrical activity causes seizures and other serious symptoms. While seizures do not necessarily prevent people from performing work-related tasks, a seizure occurring at the wrong time can turn into a serious hazard for you or the coworkers around you. Stress is often a common cause of seizures and even office workers that do not do much physical labor can often suffer from them.

If your seizures become debilitating, you may apply for SSDI benefits for illness.

Epilepsy is generally covered in listing 11.02 of the Social Security Administrations’ Blue Book, which is used to determine whether a person is disabled. You may qualify as disabled under listing 11.02 for epilepsy if you meet two separate requirements. First, you must experience a minimum of one generalized seizure a month or at least one dyscognitive seizure per week for at least three straight months after being on medication. Next, your daytime activities must somehow be affected by your seizures. Therefore, your seizures must occur during daytime hours and involve convulsions or losing consciousness, or occur at night but cause symptoms that affect your daytime activities.

You can also qualify as disabled under listing 11.02 if you experience at least one generalized tonic-clonic seizure every two months for at least four straight months or at least one dyscognitive seizure every two weeks for at least three straight months despite treatment, as well as a marked limitation in physical functioning, cognitive abilities, interactions with others, or managing yourself.

If you are applying for SSD benefits, it is in your best interest to keep a record of your seizures. Make sure you continue to adhere to the treatment prescribed by your doctor and make sure that any claim you make on your SSD benefit application can be backed up by your physician’s reports. An attorney in the Fayetteville area can help you navigate the disability benefit application process and file an appeal if your claim is denied.

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