Reasons why You've been Denied SSI for Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures can occur for many reasons, including brain damage due to infection, cancer, injury, tumors, birth trauma, stroke, drug intoxication, and chemical imbalance. There are various types of epileptic seizure, such as the petit mal, the grand mal, the Jacksonian, a seizure that causes spasms that are mainly limited to one side of the body and often to one muscle group; and the psychomotor, a seizure in which patient performs motor acts which he cannot later remember doing. For about 80 percent of those people diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures can be successfully controlled with antiepileptic medications and surgical procedures.

The Reason for the Denial

If you have received notice from the Supplemental Security Income program that your application for benefits based on disability claim of epilepsy has been denied it is very likely that based on the information you submitted they have determined that your epilepsy disability is mild and not severe enough to interfere with your a ability to do substantial gainful activity, if the claimant is an adult or if the claimant is a child under age 18, not severe enough to interfere with your ability to function like other children your same age who do not have impairments.  Often times where the epilepsy is under complete control with medication or post surgical treatments, the SSI will consider the disability is presently not severe enough to be approved for benefits.

Appeal the Benefits Denial Decision

You have sixty days to appeal the decision in the denial of benefits notice.  The appeal or request for reconsideration must be in writing.  You will need to arrange for additional medical evidence substantiating that your epilepsy based disability is severe and that it substantially interferes with your ability to work if an adult or your ability to function like other non-disabled children of your same age.  This can be done by providing additional testing results, teacher reports, social worker reports, proof of being barred from driving an automobile or a truck based on a police department affidavit and similar information that can support your claim of an inability to work or function in daily tasks if a child.

Get Legal Help

If your or a member of your family has an epileptic based disability and has been turned down on an application for benefits with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program it may be helpful to consult with a disability lawyer concerning the application and the filing of an appeal of the determination of denial of disability benefits.