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Applying for social security disability benefits

Wed, 11/13/2013 - 18:16
I am unable to work due to my seizures. I am a person who has always worked and this is very hard for me. I never ask for help because I believe I can do it on my own, but it has gotten my breaking point. I am applying for SS disability benefits, but don't know how to express in words about my seizures. I guess one reason is because I don't like to complain and this makes me feel like I'm a complainer. Could someone please help me put into words how seizures are preventing me from holding down a full time job. From not being able to drive, to grand mal seizures, to everyday myotonic jerks, to side effects of meds, and even my depression. How do I put that into words so that the disability reviewers can understand?? Please help! Thanks for listening!

Comments

Re: Applying for social security disability benefits

Submitted by stilltrying on Fri, 2013-11-15 - 13:45

I was denied the first time(w/o any help from an attorney). I would prefer to work and forget all about my siezures.They're complex-partial, not controlled on 4 medications each day. SS denied me due to the reason that I've worked b-4 so I can work again. Even though I have side effects from the medications, my biggest problems are that I can't drive(I usually have 1-2 spells a month), but that is enough to keep me off the road. When I worked b-4, I was driving, but I shouldn't have been. I have had several accidents, but they were small and never reported to insurance. My epileptologist wants me to have surgery because I have some scar tissue from a childhood illness. This is where the focus is coming from. I'm scared of surgery because of the possible side effects. I'm not sure if he would be much help at all without trying surgery. Every job I've had, I've sooner or later had a seizure, and even though I was not fired, the discrimination was obvious. If I lived in a city with good mass transit, I'd just use that, but I don't. Winters are bad 2, so walking or biking isn't a year-round solution. If I could, I would just work from home, but it's hard to find those jobs that  require NO driving. I don't even know whether I shoud try to get disability benefits or just drop it.

 

I was denied the first time(w/o any help from an attorney). I would prefer to work and forget all about my siezures.They're complex-partial, not controlled on 4 medications each day. SS denied me due to the reason that I've worked b-4 so I can work again. Even though I have side effects from the medications, my biggest problems are that I can't drive(I usually have 1-2 spells a month), but that is enough to keep me off the road. When I worked b-4, I was driving, but I shouldn't have been. I have had several accidents, but they were small and never reported to insurance. My epileptologist wants me to have surgery because I have some scar tissue from a childhood illness. This is where the focus is coming from. I'm scared of surgery because of the possible side effects. I'm not sure if he would be much help at all without trying surgery. Every job I've had, I've sooner or later had a seizure, and even though I was not fired, the discrimination was obvious. If I lived in a city with good mass transit, I'd just use that, but I don't. Winters are bad 2, so walking or biking isn't a year-round solution. If I could, I would just work from home, but it's hard to find those jobs that  require NO driving. I don't even know whether I shoud try to get disability benefits or just drop it.

 

Re: Applying for social security disability benefits

Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Fri, 2013-11-15 - 03:20
Hi Kecl, It's difficult to establish that epilepsy makes a person unable to work because of the epileptic seizures, as SSDI criteria are rather strict and/or laden with much bureaucratic technicalities. The common side-effects of epilepsy & seizures are generally more limiting to gainful activities than are the seizures themselves (for instance, I regard my migraines as more disabling than my epileptic seizures, though my epileptic seizures usually invoke prejudicially regarded intense degrees of my disability from individuals who control availability of my pursuits with gainful activities). Disability evaluations supposedly follow a five step procedure, where step 3 requires at least more than monthly grand mals that are unresponsive to treatment for at least 3 months (and expected to be that way for more than 12 months), and/or less than grand mal seizures that are very frequent, interfering to most all major life activities, and also unresponsive to treatment. "Residual Functional Capacity" is most important in Step 5, as the common side-effects of epilepsy & seizures often reduces residual functional capacity to levels that satisfy eligibility for a determination of an SSDI level of disability. The technicalities to Step 3 are somewhat illustrated in the court case "Brown versus Apfel": http://www.law.cornell.edu/socsec/cases/2d/98-6128.htm The technicalities and importance of Step 5 are somewhat illustrated in the catch-all at: http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/rfc-medical-source-statement.html As I was still trying for employment as I was also required to file for disability, the case of "Cleveland versus Policy Management Systems Corp." illustrates the main technicalities I similarly encountered: Court Case: www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/97-1008.ZO.html and, reconciling SSDI/SSI with the ADA (ADAAAA): "RECONCILING DEFINITIONS OF 'DISABILITY:' SIX YEARS LATER, HAS CLEVELAND V. POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS LIVED UP TO ITS INITIAL REVIEWS AS A BOOST FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS?" by Daniel B. Kohrman and Kimberly Berg, at: scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1093&context=elders Tadzio http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2013-title20-vol2/pdf/CFR-2013-title20-vol2-sec404-1520.pdf

Re: Applying for social security disability benefits

Submitted by mereloaded on Fri, 2013-11-15 - 08:58
First of all, I am sorry that sis is now your last resort. Do not feel ashamed, you worked and laid your taxes. Be proud if that. Second, it is true that most people get denied the first time applying, that is to discourage people that can manage otherwise. Most people get approved in hir third try, some with the help of a swi attorney that knows the inner works and the red tape os social security. You need the help of your neurologist to support your claim. The doctor will need to verify that all possible treatments have been exhausted and that there is still no seizure control. How to put it in words. Example. I suffer from crippling grand mal seizures, x times a month. The seizures come in form of convulsions, lost of conciousness, I stop breathing. The effects of the grand mal seizures are confusion, headache, fatigue and vision changes that leaves me unable to focus and with chronic fatigue and physichological changes.. Recovery takes two days on average to get back to a normal state of awareness and to regain control of my mind and body, but then seizure reoccurrence happens just a few days later starting the cycle again. The worsening of my condition has brought up seizures are violent andfrequent, making recovery timelong even with multiple and consistent treatment that has failed to control my epilepsy. I also suffer from uncontrolled petit mal seizures that impairs my brain function and I loose motor function thought the day, so I am unable to speak and move for 2-5 minutes, this happens x times. Seizures also cause my inability to concentrate and also it's lingering effects affect my motor skills as I become unbalanced, I cannot grasp objects and I often fall. This has brought up depression as I am unable to function and I am afraid of the constant seizures." That is just an example. I guess what they want is for you to express how the seizures affect you. Your dr. Has to be on board and able to support what you write. Best of luck!

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