Childhood epilepsy and Social Security disability benefits
How does Social Security look at children’s disability cases based on epilepsy or other seizure disorders?
Social Security first considers the Listing of Impairments. The Listings are a set of descriptions of medical conditions which can be disabling. The Listings tell you the what kind medical evidence you need and the medical findings to prove that the condition is disabling. While the Listings are not the only way to be found disabled, they are very important in children’s disability cases.
For seizure disorders, there are two critical Listings.
111.02 Major motor seizure disorder
111.03 Nonconvulsive epilepsy
Questions the Judge may ask in epilepsy or seizure case
Disability cases based on seizure disorders are a very special kind of disability case.
If your case goes in front of an Administrative Law Judge, you can expect to be asked these questions:
How often do you have seizures?
What happens during a seizure?
How do you feel after a seizure?
What do you have to do after a seizure (lie down, sleep etc)? And for how long?
Are you treating with a doctor?
Are you taking your medications as prescribed? How long have you been taking your medications?
While seizure disorders (epilepsy, partial complex seizures, etc.) are often disabling, simply having a seizure disorder is not enough to be found disabled. In many cases, …
Tips for seizure and epilepsy Social Security disability cases
Attorney Anthony Reeves writes about what to do and not to do when applying for Social Security disability benefits for a seizure disorder (whether due to epilepsy or pseudo-seizures).
Most people think that epilepsy is so traumatic that an individual should be approved fairly easily. Due to its unpredictability, the symptoms can affect you in a variety of different ways. Despite the severity of this condition, it is difficult to demonstrate that the condition can prevent from performing work on a full time basis.
Anthony provides a list of 5 things you should do to improve your chances of winning:
Track how often you have seizures.
Take your medications.
Track your after-effects.
Track your restrictions.
Don’t minimize or exaggerate …
How to help someone during a seizure?
If you have a family member, or a friend, with epilepsy or another seizure disorder, it can be scary and you may not know what to do when a seizure happens.
Scott Mehle, executive director of Tallahassee’s Epilepsy Association of the Big Bend, recently discussed this:
“They should just know what to do and not do when someone happens to have a seizure in public. Keeping the seizing person safe from injury is primary. Don’t restrain them. Don’t insert anything into their mouths . . . just gently turn them on their sides. Remove furniture or objects that are sharp or hard and cushion their heads,” he …
Social Security and complex partial seizures
The diagnosis of complex partial seizures brings a wide set of complications to a Social Security disability case. I have seen cases where benefits were denied because EEG results were normal. This exemplifies the confusion between complex partial seizures and epileptic seizures.
I have tried to bridge this gap in understanding by working with my clients’ doctors in providing Social Security with an explanation of this devastating condition.
I recently found a wonderful article with shines a clear light on the debilitating effects of complex partial seizures:
During a complex partial seizure, the patient may not communicate, respond to commands, or remember events that occurred. …
