Can you hold a job with narcolepsy?

Daytime sleepiness can make it hard to sit for long periods at a computer or during meetings. Cataplexy can cause falls or short periods of inattention that lead to mistakes and accidents. However, with the right adjustments, most people with narcolepsy can work.

Is narcolepsy a protected disability?

Your Legal Rights. Narcolepsy is a recognized disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under this law, your employer must make reasonable accommodations, like letting you adjust your schedule or take brief rest breaks, to deal with your narcolepsy symptoms.

Does narcolepsy qualify for FMLA?

Narcolepsy being a serious health condition, Mr. Mahn was eligible for up to 12 weeks job-protected leave. When an employer has knowledge of facts that would suggest need for and entitlement to FMLA it is required to inform the employee that s/he may be entitled to FMLA leave to address their health issues.

Can you be medically discharged for narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a serious medical condition that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep problems, and other symptoms that can make daily life challenging. If your narcolepsy started due to or was aggravated by your military service in some way, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.

Why is narcolepsy not a disability?

This disorder is extremely unpredictable and can be dangerous. There is no cure, but treatments such as medication and scheduled naps can reduce some of its effects. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize narcolepsy as a medical condition that automatically qualifies you for disability benefits.

Can you claim PIP for narcolepsy?

As a person with narcolepsy, you may be entitled to receive a number of government-funded benefits. One of the most relevant of these is called Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Why isn’t narcolepsy a disability?

What is the disability rating for narcolepsy?

Ratings for Narcolepsy In general, narcolepsy gets a base rating of 80 percent from the VA. This rating is high enough that in addition to your rating, the VA will consider whether you have family members depending on you when determining your compensation amount.

Can you get PIP for narcolepsy?

Is narcolepsy a cognitive disability?

It is not yet known if or how narcoleptics process memories differently, however, it is known that narcoleptics exhibit cognitive and attentional deficits. These deficits appear to show similarities to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is a far more common learning disorder.

Is narcolepsy a physical or mental disability?

However, narcolepsy is frequently misdiagnosed initially as a psychiatric condition, contributing to the protracted time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. Narcolepsy is a disabling neurodegenerative condition that carries a high risk for development of social and occupational dysfunction.

Can insomnia be considered a disability?

Is Insomnia a Disability? Social Security Administration does not list insomnia itself as a disability. However, insomnia often occurs with another condition. This means that, while it can be difficult to get disability benefits, it is not impossible.

Can people with narcolepsy work full time?

And it can’t be too monotonously. Often a person with narcolepsy can’t work full time, even though they have medications. I’m able to work around 25\% and still have a relatively normal life. Some can, some can’t work.

Can you get disability for narcolepsy?

Medical Evidence. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize narcolepsy as a medical condition that automatically qualifies you for disability benefits. Therefore, you must provide a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment that provides evidence of your disorder and how it affects your ability to work.

How can I Prove my narcolepsy to the SSA?

A complete and thorough RFC will help in proving to the SSA that your narcolepsy makes it unable for you to work. Your RFC should also detail the ways in which your narcolepsy prevents you from reasonably performing certain job functions.

What are some good sleep tips for people with narcolepsy?

Master proper sleep hygiene. This is important for human beings in general but it is even more important for people with narcolepsy. These tips can help reduce some of the excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Maybe it is not the same for everyone but these are the key points I see resonating in the narcolepsy community:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9McuzvOLT4