Can you get disability for seizures?

Adults with epilepsy may be eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI, for those who paid taxes into the Social Security system) or Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a means-tested program that provides cash payments to disabled children, disabled adults, and individuals aged 65 or older who are citizens or nationals of the United States.

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Supplemental Security Income - Wikipedia

(SSI, for low-income people). To qualify for either SSI or SSDI, epileptic seizures have to occur regularly (see below).

What type of seizures qualify for disability?

You must show that you suffer daytime seizures that cause you to lose consciousness or convulse or have nighttime seizures that cause severe daytime complications, such as difficulty staying awake, physical movement coordination, or thinking clearly.

Is it hard to get disability for epilepsy?

As is the case with many disabling impairments, winning a claim for Social Security Benefits based on seizure disorder can be somewhat difficult. Social Security requires that you have frequent seizures that interfere with your activities and that are well documented.

Can you work with seizures?

Many people with epilepsy are able to work and successfully carry out their job duties. Having occasional (or even fairly frequent) seizures may make your job hunt more challenging but not impossible. The better qualified you are for a position, the better your chances of success.

Are seizures a mental or physical disability?

Epilepsy is not a mental illness. In fact, the vast majority of people living with epilepsy have no cognitive or psychological problem. For the most part, psychological issues in epilepsy are limited to people with severe and uncontrolled epilepsy.

If I have Seizures, Can I get Disability?

Should I go to work after having a seizure?

If you usually recover quickly after a seizure, you might be able to get straight back to work. Or you might just need a quiet place to rest, before going back to work. Your seizure action plan should say where you need to rest. If you normally take a long time to recover from a seizure, you might need to go home.

What jobs can I not do with epilepsy?

People with epilepsy are successfully employed in a variety of jobs that might be considered high-risk: police officer, firefighter, welder, butcher, construction worker, etc. Epilepsy is a highly variable disorder and it is difficult to generalize about safety issues.

What benefits can someone with epilepsy get?

You may be entitled to benefits, depending on how your epilepsy affects you. This might include Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance. You will need to meet certain requirements in order to qualify for these benefits.

Can I get SSI for epilepsy?

Epilepsy is one of the conditions listed in the Social Security Administration's Blue Book, which means that if you meet the requirements in the Blue Book listing for epilepsy you may be able to get disability benefits.

How many hours should a person with epilepsy sleep?

People with epilepsy should get adequate sleep - enough to feel refreshed the next day. In general, adults should try for at least 7-8 hours a night. Going to bed late (for example, 3 a.m. instead of 11 p.m.) can be compensated for by sleeping late (10 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.) and thereby avoiding sleep deprivation.

Does epilepsy damage the brain?

Prolonged seizures are clearly capable of injuring the brain. Isolated, brief seizures are likely to cause negative changes in brain function and possibly loss of specific brain cells.

Does epilepsy qualify for disability tax credit?

People living with severe epilepsy not controlled by medications often find it challenging to obtain the disability tax credit (DTC) because the condition falls into a grey area. However, people with epilepsy and family members supporting people with the condition have avenues to take in order to receive the DTC.

Does epilepsy affect memory?

The epilepsy may cause difficulties with being able to store memories. Research has shown that people with epilepsy are prone to forget things more quickly than others.

Is epilepsy a serious illness?

People with status epilepticus have an increased risk of permanent brain damage and death. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). People with epilepsy also have a small risk of sudden unexpected death. The cause is unknown, but some research shows it may occur due to heart or respiratory conditions.

Does epilepsy get worse with age?

The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.

Is epilepsy a long term disability?

Proving Epilepsy As A Disability. To get approved for long term disability, your insurance company will require proof of your condition, symptoms, and impact on your job performance. This evidence can come in a few forms: proof of diagnosis; additional testing; proof of appropriate treatment; and personal documentation ...

How can you prove epilepsy?

The specialist may suggest having a test to check your brain activity called an electroencephalogram (EEG), or a brain scan to look for any problem in your brain. But if these tests do not show anything, it's still possible you have epilepsy, and you may be diagnosed just based on your symptoms.

Do I need to tell my employer if I have epilepsy?

If your epilepsy could cause a health or safety risk to you or anybody else, you must tell your employer about it. This is the law.

Can I drive with epilepsy?

To drive, you must meet all normal driving requirements and must have been completely free of seizures for one year, with or without taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Different regulations may apply if your seizures do not affect your consciousness (see below).

Is stress a trigger for seizures?

Stress is a known precipitating factor for seizures in individuals suffering from epilepsy. Severe acute stress and persistent exposure to stress may increase susceptibility to seizures, thereby resulting in a higher frequency of seizures.

Can you get fired for having seizures?

Can I be fired for having epilepsy? You cannot be fired for having epilepsy. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the employment of a qualified individual with a disability who can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

What would cause a seizure all of a sudden?

Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.

How do seizures affect your ability to work?

If your epilepsy is controlled, it will not significantly affect your ability to perform physical work. However, it's obvious that you cannot perform any kind of physical work while having an epileptic seizure.

What is the average lifespan of a person with epilepsy?

On average, people with epilepsy live 10–12 years less than those who do not have the condition. Summary: On average, people with epilepsy live 10-12 years fewer than those who do not have the condition. Excess mortality is particularly pronounced among people with epilepsy and mental disorders.

Does a seizure reset your brain?

Epileptic seizures reset the excessive pathological entrainment occurring minutes prior to their onset and appear to play a homeostatic role of restoring the balance between synchronization and desynchronization of brain dynamics [9].