Looking for Support to Live a More Secure Life with Epilepsy?
Epilepsy has you constantly on alert.
You never know when a seizure might strike. At best it may only interrupt your day. At worst it can put you in a life-threatening situation.
If your seizures are frequent enough, you may not be able to hold a job. Without work, bills pile up.
Social Security Disability benefits can relieve some of that stress, providing income support to steady your life. But is epilepsy a disability in the eyes of Social Security?
You applied, only to be denied. In fact, most first-time applications fail.
What can you do?
It’s not the end. The Morgan Law Firm can help. We’re a disability law firm that gets results fighting denied Social Security Disability claims in Indiana and Michigan.
Social Security Disability Is All We Do.
Tell us your story about living with epilepsy. We know how to present health problems that can be difficult for other people to understand.
We can guide you through the steps and give you the best chance possible to win an appeal for disability with epilepsy—and relief from the stress of job loss.
How Do I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits for Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that can be mysterious. Sometimes you know what causes it. Often you don’t. That’s why it’s important to have thorough documentation of your condition and how it has impacted your life.
To qualify for disability benefits for epilepsy, you have to pair your symptoms with their negative impact on your ability to keep a job.
The frequency of your seizures is important to your disability claim. Social Security recognizes epilepsy as a disability if you meet the following scenarios despite treatment:
- Tonic-clonic seizures: the loss of consciousness and convulsions – once a month for at least three months,
OR
Twice a month for four consecutive months with a noticeable reduction in physical functioning, ability to understand and apply information, ability to concentrate and keep up with activities, or the ability to manage your everyday life - Dyscognitive seizures: seizures that don’t involve convulsions, but include blank stares, changes in facial expressions, or repetitive behaviors like lip smacking, chewing or swallowing.
These must occur once a week for three consecutive months,OR
Once every two weeks for at least three consecutive months and show notable limitations like those described under tonic-clonic seizures.
If your experience doesn’t perfectly match Social Security’s definition of a disability for epilepsy, don’t give up. You still may be eligible for benefits if you present the right information.
It’s easy to make mistakes when you apply. If you missed documents, the South Bend disability lawyers at The Morgan Law Firm can help you find what you need, collect more evidence, and organize your case to give you the best chance on appeal.
Your Michiana disability attorney can even help you fill out the complicated paperwork required when you appeal a denial. Having a skilled disability lawyer at your side helps you overcome the barriers to a successful process.
Start with a free consultation from our disability law team.
How To Start Your Appeal for Epilepsy Disability Benefits
When you applied for disability benefits, you may have left out key pieces of evidence or not shown enough proof of your impairment.
Don’t be hard on yourself. The application is complicated.
Take a breath, but don’t wait too long. There’s a tight deadline to file an appeal. You need to file the paperwork saying you intend to appeal soon.
As you build your appeal, you’ll fix mistakes and fill in the blanks that led to your denial.
Remember: the frequency of your episodes is key to showing Social Security that your epilepsy is disabling.
A disability lawyer can be a great advantage in finding the flaws in your claim that you need to fix and presenting the information Social Security needs to see.
Appeals involve sending in updates and new medical evidence, and possibly explaining your case to a disability judge.
Government statistics have shown that you have almost three times the chance of winning an appeal after a disability hearing with a judge if you have a lawyer instead of going it alone.
Talk to our Indiana disability attorneys today to get your appeal started for Social Security Disability for epilepsy—and to start looking forward to better and brighter days.