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Real members of MyEpilepsyTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Is it possible to have a job when have epilepsy

A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭
Kingwood, WV
October 3
 · 
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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

It depends on if you let them know you have epilepsy. If you do tell them, they will check with the MIB (Medical Information Bureau) and find out what epilepsy is and if you are a good candidate for hire.

October 3
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member
I just have a small job with epilepsy because I’m on SSDI. Being on SSDI there’s a limit of how much I’m allowed to make which isn’t much

October 3 (edited)
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Yes it’s possible. When I worked I had to look for work the didn’t require driving on the job. A job I was confident in . A job that I wouldn’t get too injured from a seizure.

All my job were in easy distance by walking, biking and city transportations. If a family member or friend can help get you to and from a Job, that good too.

It wasn’t until I moved into the rural area of my state when I applied for Social Security

October 3
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Yes. I worked in retail for 12 years. I did leave and have now been out for about 4 years but I'm currently working towards going into aged care.

October 3
MyEpilepsyTeam

Absolutely — many people with epilepsy have fulfilling careers across a wide range of industries. While it can come with challenges, it's far from impossible! In the U.S., the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with epilepsy from workplace discrimination. Employers with 15 or more employees are required Show Full Answer

Absolutely — many people with epilepsy have fulfilling careers across a wide range of industries. While it can come with challenges, it's far from impossible! In the U.S., the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with epilepsy from workplace discrimination. Employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide reasonable accommodations to make working easier. These adjustments are usually based on how epilepsy affects you personally.

Here are some helpful steps for navigating work with epilepsy:

- Talk to HR if you need accommodations — prepare a list of questions and concerns beforehand
- Ask your doctor to document how epilepsy affects you, so HR fully understands your needs
- Consider telling trusted colleagues so they can support you if a seizure occurs
- Know your rights before deciding whether to disclose your condition to your employer

Disclosure is entirely your choice. A MyEpilepsyTeam member shared that after having a seizure at work without anyone knowing about their epilepsy, they decided to tell everyone — and found it was "no big deal" once people were informed. If epilepsy ever makes it impossible to continue working, disability benefits like SSDI or SSI may be an option worth exploring. Epilepsy is recognized under the Social Security Administration's list of qualifying conditions.

October 3

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