If you have developed epilepsy or another seizure disorder and are no longer able to drive or work, then these tips will help you successfully submit a Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) claim to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Tip: Understand the SSA's Approval Criteria for Seizure Disorders
When it comes to seizure disorders, it isn't simply enough to have a diagnosis to be approved for SSDI payments. Many people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders work and have very productive lives. For these people, medications are effective and their disease doesn't interfere much with their daily functioning. For this reason, it is often more challenging for people who are not as fortunate to get an approval.
Instead of simply being approved for disability payments based on your diagnosis, you will need to prove you have a certain number of events within a specific time even though you are taking medication to stop the seizures. Typically, to be approved for SSDI, you must have each of the following:
Also, since confusion, cognition problems, and disorientation are sometimes symptoms of seizures, these aspects are also taken into consideration by the SSA.
Tip: Keep a Seizure Diary
In addition to submitting copies of all of your medical records to the SSA when you apply for disability, you can also help your case by submitting copies of a daily journal of your seizure activity and overall health. If you do not keep a seizure diary, then today is the day you need to start. While a journal is not an official medical record, it is helpful for showing the SSA what your days are like and why you are unable to return to work.
Tip: Take Prescribed Anticonvulsant Medications
When you apply for SSDI, you have to prove you have been doing everything possible to improve your health. For this reason, if your doctor has prescribed anticonvulsant medications to control your seizures, then you need to be taking them as prescribed. If you choose not to follow your doctor's instructions, then the SSA will deny your claim.
Tip: Improve Your Odds of an Approval by Working with a Social Security Disability Lawyer
While you are free to apply for Social Security disability insurance on your own, people who are applying who have a seizure disorder should strongly consider applying with the assistance of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer. By law, the lawyer won't get paid unless you get approved for disability payments, and your chances of getting approved with the help of an attorney are a lot higher than if you apply as an individual.
Share2 June 2018
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