Evidence You Will Need to Obtain For Social Security Disability for Epilepsy

At first, suffering seizures at work was embarrassing. You would wake up with everyone crowded around you, and although you would insist you were fine, they still looked at you differently afterwards. But your episodes went from inconvenient to unbearable, making it impossible to do your job. You took a leave of absence, but you’re not sure if you can go back. How will you support your family?

Uncontrolled Epilepsy May Qualify For Social Security Disability

If you cannot work due to frequent seizures, you may be able to get Social Security disability. However, you will have to prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that your condition prevents you from earning a living.

On your disability application, you should provide the following medical evidence:

• Overview of condition. You should describe the daily complications of your illness, as well as the type, frequency, and duration of your seizures.
• Seizure summary. The SSA will need a detailed description of a typical seizure. You should note any effects that precede the episode, including presence or absence of aura, and your injuries and experiences afterwards, including tongue bites, loss of bodily control, and head or neck injuries. It will also help your claim to provide a third party’s description of what happens to you during one of your seizures.
• Physician observations. In addition to a detailed diagnosis, your physician should provide his own observations and prognosis of your condition. Your doctor’s opinion should be consistent with your own description of symptoms and complications.
• Treatment response. You should list the medications you are taking to control your seizures, as well as how well you are responding to treatment, and any side effects you experience. Blood test results may be useful in proving that you are following the prescribed dosage of anti-epileptic medication. Non-compliance with treatment is the number one reason for denial of claims.

You should be aware that many disability applications are denied the first time around due to incomplete information. In our free book, 5 Deadly Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Social Security Disability Case, we help disabled workers through the application process, making it more likely that your case will be approved. Click the link at the top of this page to begin reading.