Can I Claim Disability for Epilepsy in Wisconsin?

When Does Epilepsy Qualify for Social Security Disability?

Anyone applying for disability benefits needs to show that their health issue is severe enough to stop them from working any job for a long time—12 months or longer.

These aren’t benefits for people with minor health problems who just need some time off from work.

Epilepsy is listed in Social Security’s “blue book” of health impairments that can be eligible for benefits, so claims examiners can follow a specific way of evaluating your claim.

They want to see one of these four medical issues:

1. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures occurring at least once per month for at least three consecutive months, despite treatment
2. Dyscognitive seizures occurring at least once per week for at least three consecutive months, despite treatment
3. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures occurring at least once every two months for at least four consecutive months, despite treatment, and a distinct limitation in one of the following capabilities:
   1. Physical functioning
   2. Understanding, remembering or applying information
   3. Interacting with others
   4. Focusing on work, completing tasks and maintaining a work routine
   5. Adapting to changes at work and managing your emotions, personal care and behavior
4. Dyscognitive seizures occurring at least once every two weeks for at least three consecutive months, despite treatment, and a marked limitation in one of the following:
   1. Physical functioning
   2. Understanding, remembering or applying information
   3. Interacting with others
   4. Focusing on work, completing tasks and maintaining a work routine
   5. Adapting to changes at work and managing your emotions, personal care and behavior

Even if you don’t meet these specifications exactly, don’t let that discourage you.

An Appleton disability attorney can help you figure out if you meet the general disability requirements set out by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Start with a FREE, no-obligation case evaluation. 

How Do I Prove My Epilepsy Case Qualifies for Disability Benefits?

Proving that epilepsy meets Social Security’s disability standards—or that your particular seizures make full-time work unrealistic—comes down to one thing: thorough medical documentation.

Tim Geary and Geary Disability Law can make sure your claim has the medical documentation you need.

These kinds of documentation typically strengthen an epilepsy disability claim:

• Your diagnosis specifying your seizure types
• Records showing the history of your condition
• Physical exam findings
• Neurological exam findings
• EEG (electroencephalogram) results
• Brain imaging (MRI or CT scans)
• Documentation of how often your seizures occur
• Lists of medications you’ve tried
• Notes on how you’ve responded to treatment
• A record showing that you have made every effort to follow your treatment plan
• Side effects of medication that can be debilitating in themselves
• Physician descriptions of what happens during your seizures
• Statements from people who’ve witnessed your seizures
• A personal log of your seizure experiences
• Hospital records, if applicable

It’s not easy to think of every detail you should include. Your disability lawyer can ask you questions to discover aspects of your daily life that seem unimportant to you but could be important for Social Security to see.

Geary Disability Law can help you explain to doctors what you need to document, gather your records, organize your information and make sure everything is properly filed with your Social Security Disability claim.

When you go for medical appointments, you should speak openly and in detail about your symptoms to your doctor, so they take notes that can go into your case.

Tim Geary can walk you through this process from start to finish, helping you spot and correct gaps in your file.

The more information you can include, the better. Social Security wants to see objective evidence of your health issues and symptoms.