From one Texan to another, Howdy @A MyEpilepsyTeam Member , You could do one of 2 things that I mention or check out both. You could contact your local Epilepsy Foundation & ask them if they know of any good disability attorneys & you’ll find your local Epilepsy Foundation’s contact information at www.eftx.org & you’ll also find information about support groups & events they offer & resources they offer like if you need assistance getting your medicine cause you can’t afford it or you don’t have any insurance, etc. I’m in Austin & I contacted my local Epilepsy Foundation’s main office in San Antonio about applying for disability a few years ago & they had me contact The Packard Law Firm located in San Antonio, Texas & their website is www.packardfirm.com & with the help of my disability attorney Jacob & The Packard Law Firm, my disability was approved in late 2022. Once they started helping me it may have taken about 2 & 1/2 years but I keep stressing to others that everyone’s case is different & so it might not take as long for one person as it did for another. It’s common for some to be denied on the first try & so you & the attorney just keep collecting paperwork & providing it to Social Security. I was denied by paper twice & so then I had to do a vocational hearing by phone with a Judge, a Vocational Expert & my attorney & then after that the Judge received some kind of a little more evidence & so I had to do one more phone hearing & eventually was approved. My attorney collected all the information he knew he would need. I provided the names of doctors & why I saw them & all of my medical issues, including my TMJ & how I go to physical therapy every 2 weeks for that & how if my jaw starts hurting I must take some Tylenol or Excedrin for the pain & I had to explain that due to my verbal tics that occur daily & are more active when I’m around others that I wouldn’t be able to go back to my last 2 jobs, one was at a nursing home as a Dietary Aide & the other was working at a fast food burger place & my verbal tics would occur often & people might mistake my verbal tics & think I was talking to them but with my verbal tics I say or holler words, names, phrases or humming or moaning noises uncontrollably & can’t control when or what I say. The law firm only went back about 2 years cause he said Social Security would only look back that far & so my special ed school paperwork didn’t matter. So you might contact The Packard Law Firm & ask if though you live in Houston could they still take your case cause I dealt with them all by phone & never had to go to San Antonio to their office. Towards the end they gave me a doctor disability form for my doctors to fill out & my Neurologist, Family doctor & my Physical therapist who I see for my TMJ, all filled that out & I think that helped me a lot. If you have any questions feel free to ask me. Your friend in Austin, Becky

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I’m looking into that

Dang, that sux so sorry to hear that. From my understanding when I got my SSI & SSDI disability your work credits shouldn't be lost, of course I am not a lawyer so not 100% sure but, I tried to apply in 2011 in Livingston TX, Polk County, I got denied but that was for just back issues my epilepsy wasn't diagnosed at that time. When I reapplied in 2019-2020 it was my back & neck issues & my epilepsy in Spring Tx , Montgomery County still had the work credits. I didn't have a lawyer just went on my own. So when they sent me to their DR I was approved. You should still be able to apply for SSDI & SSI again or appeal the denial if you got one. There are places that will help for free, you just got to dig deep to find.. Disability is a huge PAIN, but epilepsy is in the disability book of reasons to disable someone. Defiantly don't give up because they will defiantly do everything not to approve you, so have to be a massive pain in their tush. Try the Epilepsy Foundation of Houston. They may be able to better guide you, if not find other lawyers that can take it and you don't pay unless they win, but they get a cut of your lump sum. In your case it may be worth it with the trouble you are having... . It's always best to get several lawyers opinions . There are ones that will take the case, it's just a matter of finding one. BEST of luck to you!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!

Sometimes doctors may know who you can get to help with

Thank you for the info - they responded but because I listened to SS in the beginning of all this (2013) I only applied for Supplemental Security disability because that’s what they said
Turns out I should’ve applied for SSDI and now it’s too late I lost those credits… 😔depressing but that law firm gave me time , listened & advice