What are the restrictions for Social Security benefits for an epileptic illness?

You can qualify for epilepsy social security benefits if you are suffering from epileptic illness. However there are restrictions on the benefits.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder. It causes recurring seizures in a person. Epilepsy causes the nerve cells to send out wrong signals which results in the seizures.

There are two types of epilepsy – convulsive and non-convulsive. If you are suffering from convulsive epilepsy, to qualify for disability benefits, the seizures must occur more than once a month and you must have undergone at least three months of treatment under medical supervision. If the seizures occur during the day, then it must result in loss of consciousness or convulsions. If it occurs at night, then it must impact your activities on the next day. Non-convulsive epilepsy will qualify for disability benefits if it occurs more than once a month and you have been under treatment for at least three months. It must cause you to loose consciousness or disorient you or affect your day time activities.

Merely being diagnosed by a doctor that you have epilepsy will not be sufficient. You must have undergone treatment for at least three months to qualify. The seizures must occur frequently to prevent you from working. So if you suffer from epilepsy but it does not hamper your ability to work, then you will not be eligible for social security benefits. The amount of benefit will depend on how the number of years you have been working and the amount you earned during that time. An experienced disability lawyer can explain the restrictions on social security benefits for an epileptic illness and let you know if you qualify.