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I've been looking into this myself because I have just quit my job (although not because of epilepsy). The SS website has a comprehensive listing of what they look for in each of their disorder listings.
Here's the link for the adult neurological disorders listings: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm
Be sure to read the relevant parts of the page.
To kind of sum up a bit, they mainly seem to focus on tonic-clonic seizures and the frequency of which you have them. They count multiple seizures in a 24 hour period as one seizure. Status epilepticus gets counted as one seizure. Seizures caused by not taking meds properly without good reason don't get counted. EEG evidence doesn't seem to be considered, so you'll need to have witness statements of the seizures, or better yet video recordings.
SSI and SSDI are not the same so be sure to consider which you need when you apply.
Honestly this situation seems pretty lousy to me.
Maybe someone can reread the link and double check it because I'm not to sure about what I'm reading here. Or better yet, if someone who is on SSI/SSDI could chime in it would be greatly appreciated.
Well they are nearly the same. I think for SSDI, you need a disability, that is the D. But I'm not positive.I had never even heard about SSI differences with SSDI. I just thought they were the same.
Here is some more info. about them.
https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/page5-13.html (And be sure to check out the links from there ).
I worked over 25 years when I had a closed head injury that started the seizures.
Thus I qualified for SSDI.
Although I don't make a great amount I was surprised at making as much as I do. That's because at the time of my accident I was working at a rather low paying job. I've been told that the amount is based on some kind of overall amount earned. At one time I worked at a fairly high paying job.
Since I own my own mortgage free home and since I can't drive I don't spend money on car payments, I make enough money to get by. Because I have those assets I don't qualify for food "stamps" (EBT Card).
You probably will need a lawyer.
Sometimes I think about going back to work then I wake up on the floor.
Side effects like memory loss and not being able to drive don't help either. Neither do the various side effects of from the drugs.
I sure couldn't run a saw, drive a forklift or a golf cart or get up on a ladder to get (and put away) boxes like I did in the past.
I've been looking into this myself because I have just quit my job (although not because of epilepsy). The SS website has a comprehensive listing of what they look for in each of their disorder listings.
Here's the link for the adult neurological disorders listings: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm
Be sure to read the relevant parts of the page.
To kind of sum up a bit, they mainly seem to focus on tonic-clonic seizures and the frequency of which you have them. They count multiple seizures in a 24 hour period as one seizure. Status epilepticus gets counted as one seizure. Seizures caused by not taking meds properly without good reason don't get counted. EEG evidence doesn't seem to be considered, so you'll need to have witness statements of the seizures, or better yet video recordings.
SSI and SSDI are not the same so be sure to consider which you need when you apply.
Honestly this situation seems pretty lousy to me.
Maybe someone can reread the link and double check it because I'm not to sure about what I'm reading here. Or better yet, if someone who is on SSI/SSDI could chime in it would be greatly appreciated.