Advice?
By greylady
@greylady (153)
United States
September 15, 2007 5:19pm CST
I have a son who just turned 31 years old. He is epileptic. We have attempted to file for disability for him and can't seem to get anywhere with it.
He recieves his medication thru a program with one of the companies that produces his medication but that is the best we have been able to do. His seizures still occur though he is taking medication but the meds help. Without them he is subject to grand mal seizures but with the meds they are a lot less severe. He cannot acquire a drivers license and there are no jobs within walking distance that he would be able to perform. Most employers consider him a risk to employ because of his condition. He cannot work with machinery. He has seizures if he gets too cold or too warm. He is not allowed to swim. He has to avoid heights. He has seizures if he gets upset, stressed, is placed under pressure of any sort, or gets excited about something. Flashing lights cause seizures.
The county we live in will not provide medical or monetary assistance because he has no children. His neurologist will not see him any more because he has no means to pay him. His lawyers say without ongoing medical records it is doubtful that they will be able to acquire disability for him. I can't afford the medical care he needs. Due to recent financial problems I am currently struggling to keep a roof over our heads and don't even have a vehicle.
2 people like this
2 responses
@hdrkid7 (11)
• United States
15 Sep 07
I have no idea where you live in the US, but if you can find a 'public' hospital that receives federal funding, you can claim Burton-Hill which is the law that says they must treat you at least to a point where your well-being is no longer in danger. Can you get to a larger city and find a clinic for the poor? The depart. of social services can give you the name of such a place and they are often sliding scale fees. Also, is there a law school nearby? These often have clinics and can show you how to apply for disability or send you to a paralegal who can do it. A friend of mine got disability by going to a paralegl who handled the case for a cut of the initial payment. She got $5,000 to start with(dating back from the time of disablement) and the para-legal got $1,000! Taken right off the top! Something else, you may want to find out the name of the pharmaceutical company that makes Dilantin(what they usually give epileptics)and that company may either give you FREE medicine or prescriptions at greatly reduced prices. Doctors often have samples to give out to financially strapped patients. Find a school of medicine supported by a church or religion and they can help!
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Sep 07
I live in the US and I know for some reason they don't recognize epilepsy as being a disease that puts a person on the social security or any other much needed program. I have a 32 year old cousin who recently was diagnosed with MS and it took my sister a year to get him any help...especially with the much needed medication. She wrote to everyone she could think of in the state of PA and finally after sending a letter to a couple of newspapers telling his story he finally got on some sort of aid that is now helping him. You have to start writing letters to anyone and everyone who can help him. Eventually he will get some help. Good luck.
