What Are Burn Pits
Open-air burn pits are large areas of land that were used as a means of waste disposal on American bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti after September 11, 2001. The practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, but the pits emitted plumes of toxic smoke. The following materials have been linked to military burn pits:
- Human waste
- Lubricants
- Petroleum
As these wastes were burned, harmful chemicals and toxic fumes were released into the atmosphere. As such, many veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have developed health conditions from hazardous exposures caused by the burn pits.
Can I Get Disability If I Have Seizures
Hi,I have a question in regard to applying for disability. I have had seizures all my life and was able to work, however, recently I had a seizure in the kitchen and got burnt on parts of my body and had to been sent to the burn unit in the hospital and ended up having another seizure, not sure if I will be able to go back to work. I wanted to know can I apply for disability and how the process works in regards to finding out about how much I would be awarded. I know it goes about how long I worked in my adult life, but just not sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.Most popular topics on SSDRC.com
Can I Get Ssdi Benefits For Epilepsy
How to Apply for Benefits with Epilepsy. Epileptics can apply for Social Security disability in one of two ways: online or in person at the local SSA office . If youre applying online, you should understand that you can only submit an application via the SSAs website for SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance,
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Qualifying Under Blue Book Listing
The SSA has a list of specific requirements that you need to meet to get disability benefits for epilepsy. These are based on listing 11.02 for Convulsive and Nonconvulsive Epilepsy in the Blue Book. Youll need to qualify based on information about the frequency and type of seizures you suffer from.
Remember that there are also disability guidelines for children who have epilepsy, but these are a bit different.
Convulsive Seizures
Individuals who experience convulsive seizures will be required to show evidence of seizures that occur at least once every two months for four months or longer while taking medication. Limitations in one of the following are also required:
- Adapting or managing oneself
- Persisting, maintaining pace, or concentrating
Qualifying Under Medical-Vocational Guidelines
Even people who do not meet all the listings above may still qualify for benefits. This is the case if your epilepsy symptoms lead to interference in your activities to the point where you cannot consistently and safely perform work tasks. To determine whether this is the case, the claims examiner assigned to your case will analyze your symptoms and condition, as well as other factors. These include:
- Age
- Other psychiatric and medical conditions that affect the ability to work
- Transferable work skills
- Special doctors restrictions such as not being able to work around machinery or being unable to drive a vehicle.
Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits If I Have Epileptic And Non
Disability insurance companies dont always make it easy for policyholders who have seizures to get the disability benefits they deserve. A seizure occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain recurrent seizures are called epilepsy.
What Is An Epileptic Seizure?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures, which occur when nerve cells or neurons in the brain send out the wrong signals. There is no known cause, though seizures can be triggered by brain injury, tumor, infection, stroke, withdrawal from Xanax and other medications, abuse of drugs or alcohol, low blood sugar, and even cancer.
There are two general types of seizures and many subtypes based on the pattern of the attack. A generalized seizure involves both sides of the brain common subtypes include grand mal and petit mal seizures.
Partial or focal seizures begin in a specific area of the brain and can spread to the entire brain.
Epileptic seizures can range from brief to long periods of shaking in about 70% of cases they are controlled by medication. It is not uncommon for disability carriers to deny payment of benefits on the basis that the seizure disorder is well controlled or that the seizures dont occur often enough to be disabling. The carrier will ignore the cognitive complications caused by seizures.
What Are The Common Symptoms?
The common symptoms include:
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Why It’s Important To Keep Friends And Family Updated
Disability claims examiners often contact applicants to question them regarding their ability to perform normal daily activities . Sometimes they make similar calls to the friends and relatives of disability applicants.
These calls are known as third-party ADL calls, and the information gleaned from these conversations can be used to help claims examiners justify making a denial on claims. It is for this reason that applicants should ensure that the people they list as contacts on the disability applicationfriends and familyare fully aware of their medical condition and frequency of their seizures.
Two: Consult The Blue Book And Retrieve Test Results Confirming The Severity Of Your Epilepsy
When evaluating applications, the SSA compares your diagnosis to the Blue Book. This list contains all qualifying disabilities as well as the tests and symptoms required to be approved for them.
Epilepsy is listed under Blue Book Section 11: Neurological Disorders Adult. To qualify, applicants must experience multiple generalized tonic-clonic seizures, dyscognitive seizures, or a combination of both within a certain time period in order to be considered totally and permanently disabled.
Additional limitations in physical or mental functioning may also contribute to the SSAs decision on a case. To show this on your application, you can provide CAT scans, MRIs, physicians notes, therapy session notes, hospitalization records, medication lists, or even testimonies from friends and family that document your symptoms.
In essence: the more your epilepsy limits you, the more likely you are to receive benefits.
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Chronic Disease Management Plan
If youve had a chronicmedical condition, such as epilepsy, for at least 6 months you and your GP canagree to a Chronic Disease Management Plan. Your GP can develop a plan thatwill identify your health care needs, sets out the services your GP provides,and lists what you need to do
If you have complex careneeds in addition to a chronic condition, your GP may also develop Team CareArrangements . This identifies the treatment you get from your GP and atleast 2 other health professionals.
If youre eligible andyour GP prepares the plan, you may also get Medicare benefits for specificallied health services .
Talk to your doctor to find out more about the plans and visit the DHS website for more information.
Muskegon Lawyer For Seizure Disorders And Social Security Disability
Epilepsy is a relatively generic term used to describe a condition in which a person has repeated seizures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 3.4 million people nationwide suffer from epilepsy. There are numerous possible causes for a seizure disorder, including: traumatic brain injury, genetic condition, certain medications, drug abuse, brain tumors, infections, and abnormal levels of glucose in the blood .
contact us onlineto discuss the Social Security benefits available to you as someone who suffers from epilepsy or regular seizures in Muskegon.
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Inability To Work Due To Epilepsy
Your insurance company may not fully understand the impact your epilepsy has on your job performance. Never assume they will connect the dots on their own. You must explain it.
Think of how your condition prevents you from working in specific ways. With epilepsy, seizures can come at any time for example, in the middle of an important business presentation or during a telephone call with a new client. Uncontrollable jerking of the limbs might make it impossible to perform your job duties, whether its typing on a computer, handling tools, or interpersonal meetings. Extreme fatigue and headaches might cause you to frequently use sick days.
Your epilepsy may be exacerbated by your work environment. Stress can trigger epileptic seizures, so a demanding job may worsen your condition significantly. Sleep deprivation is another very common trigger – if you work long hours that require late nights and early mornings, it could be very detrimental to your health and cause you to experience more seizures than you would otherwise.
Your epilepsy may also directly cause you to experience severe emotional problems, such as depression or anxiety, that leave you unable to perform your job as needed.
Appropriate Treatment For Epilepsy
When evaluating a disability claim due to epilepsy, the insurance company will want to see youre receiving appropriate treatment. Should the insurance company believe you are not seeking appropriate or frequent enough care, they can use that as an excuse to deny your claim.
Since there is no cure for epilepsy, the purpose of treatment is to prevent seizures and effectively control any other symptoms through the use of pharmaceuticals. Some people have a type of epilepsy that is resistant to anti-seizure drug therapy in these cases, surgical intervention may be an option, though surgery comes with many serious risks, such as memory problems, sight loss, and stroke.
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If Your Child Has Frequent Disruptive Seizures Despite Being On Medication And You Have Low Income Your Child Should Be Eligible For Ssi
By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the brain that causes repeated seizures, which are defined as episodes of electrical activity in the brain that cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, or changes in behavior. Epileptic seizures can be caused by cerebral palsy or brain trauma, tumor, or infections, but sometimes the cause is not known.
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Symptoms Of Epilepsy And Seizures
Seizure symptoms can vary widely and may include the following:
- Temporary confusion
- Loss of consciousness or awareness
- Feelings of anxiety, fear, or déjà vu
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure however, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time. In other words, the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode.
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How To Build A Strong Disability Claim After An Epilepsy Diagnosis
The Social Security Administration allows patients to collect disability for a seizure disorder, but not all patients will qualify for benefits. In particular, the SSA won’t compensate patients for a single seizure only individuals who experience multiple recurrent seizures will be eligible for epilepsy disability.
While it can be difficult to prove the extent of your condition, patients can build a strong disability case through:
If you’re unable to work due to the symptoms of your epilepsy, our attorneys can help you get the benefits you deserve. Call us today, or fill out the form on this page to set up your consultation with a Social Security attorney.
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Individual Unemployability For Seizure Disorders
Epilepsy and seizure conditions can be extremely debilitating and as result, interfere with daily life. For example, a veterans service-connected seizure condition may prevent them from working. If this is the case, they may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability a disability benefit that allows for veterans to be compensated at VAs 100 percent disability rate, even if their combined schedular rating does not equal 100 percent. Veterans who are unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment should explore this option in order to potentially maximize their benefits.
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According To The Minnesota Epilepsy Group If A Person Has One Seizure They Have A 40 To 50 Percent Chance Of Having Another Seizure Within Two Years If They Do Not Take Medication A Seizure Is A Single Burst Of Electrical Activity In The Brain But There Is A Difference Between Having One Seizure And Having A Seizure Disorder A Seizure Is A One
The Social Security Administration has specific language and conditions related to qualifying for benefits while experiencing symptoms of seizure disorders such as epilepsy. Call 512-454-4000 and get help today.
A person may experience a sudden change of awareness or unusual sensations or thoughts. The most common symptoms include:
- Involuntary movements, especially of the arms and legs
- Staring into space
Focal seizures begin on one side of the brain and spread. A generalized seizure may start as a focal seizure that spreads to both sides of the brain or begin on both sides of the brain at once.
Qualifying For Epilepsy Under The Ssa’s Official Listing
The SSA sets out what’s required to get disability benefits for epilepsy in disability listing 11.02. Note that, because it can take several months of taking medication to control seizures, especially if the medication needs to be adjusted, you must have taken your prescribed medication for at least three months before applying for disability benefits. In addition, if your doctor has told you to abstain from alcohol, and you haven’t, you won’t be considered to have followed prescribed treatment for three months.
Listing 11.02 includes different requirements for two main categories of seizures.
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What Help Is Available
You are entitled to free prescriptions for your epilepsy medications. You may be able to get financial help towards the cost of travel to medical appointments and to work. You may also be entitled to discounted bus, rail and tube travel in some areas. You may be eligible for some welfare benefits and tax credits. If you need support with daily living or equipment, an assessment from social services may be helpful. There may be help available if you care for a person with epilepsy.
Your entitlements will depend on what your epilepsy is like and how it affects you. The information below includes contact details and links to sources of information and help.
More Facts About Epilepsy
In Canada, its estimated that 0.6 percent of the population is diagnosed with epilepsy, with an average of 42 people learning they have epilepsy every single day. In a majority of cases, the cause of the epileptic seizures in unknown, but in the remainder, these are the most common causes:
- Brain tumors
- Infections like meningitis and viral encephalitis
- Alcohol poisoning
The majority of those diagnosed with epilepsy are young children and senior citizens. About half of the children diagnosed with epilepsy will grow out of the disorder and stop having seizures. However, if their condition is severe and prolonged, parents of children with epilepsy can apply for a child disability tax credit. If the condition continues, the children can apply for a disability tax credit for themselves when they become of age. Find out more about Disability Tax Credit for Children.
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Apply To Get Disability For Seizures
If you experience seizures and meet the above qualifications, you may be eligible to receive disability benefits. Living with a seizure disorder that negatively impacts your life can make it difficult to work and earn money to support yourself and your family. Suppose you have epilepsy but dont quite meet the SSA Blue Book qualifications, but you are still unable to work due to your condition. In that case, you may still be able to qualify by going through a RFC, or residual functional capacity analysis. An RFC requires you to fill out functional reports with your doctor. Friends, family, or caregivers may also be asked to fill out a report to help the SSA understand your illness and how it affects your everyday life.
Would Epilepsy Be Considered A Disability
Depending on the severity, epilepsy can be considered a disability which makes employment very difficult or even impossible for many sufferers for a variety of reasons. Those with seizures that cannot be controlled may find themselves unable to perform job duties of any type because their consciousness is constantly interrupted by the seizures.
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I Have Epilepsy Can I Get Social Security Disability
Epilepsy is a medical condition that causes recurring seizures. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which means if affects the brain. Epileptic seizures are caused by problems with electrical and chemical activity in the brain. The causes of most epileptic seizures are not known but most people develop epilepsy as a result of brain injury, stroke or drug and alcohol abuse. Epilepsy is controllable with medication in 70% of cases, however if you are unresponsive to medications, this condition and its symptoms can make day-to-day activities virtually impossible.
The short answer is, It depends. And it depends on many factors, most notably the severity of your symptoms, the effectiveness of treatment options, the strength of your medical evidence, your age, your education level and the type of work you have done. Epilepsy disability claims can be somewhat difficult. This means that if the epileptic seizures are not frequent and well documented there is a very slim chance of being approved for Social Security disability benefits. So, Epilepsy cases often come down to documentation showing frequent doctor or hospital visits, diary of your seizure frequency and compliance with medications.
How a Social Security Attorney Can Help
Whether youre preparing your first SSDI application, submitting your claim for Reconsideration or appealing a rejected claim, you have a greater chance of success with the help of a knowledgeable lawyer.
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