It can be extremely difficult to hold down a job with chronic pain. If you're considering filing for Social Security disability benefits due to migraine, read this first.
When I applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for my chronic migraine, I was prepared for a long battle. I was so sure I would be denied that when a large deposit showed up in my account, I thought it was a mistake. The relief became real only after I tracked down an approval letter explaining my benefits and back pay.
The entire process had taken less than five months and had required no appeals, no lawyers, and no additional paperwork.
Getting approved for SSDI for migraine is tough. In the United States, the Social Security Administration does not recognize migraine as severe enough to automatically warrant disability benefits, and most claims are initially denied. (To learn more about disability policies in other countries, follow these links: United Kingdom, Australia, Canada).
Obviously, laws vary by country. I'm not a disability lawyer, so if you need to consult an attorney, please do so before taking my experience and assuming it applies to your case. I'm just a patient and a blogger who qualified in the United States and wanted to share my experience with others facing the same struggle.
My experience shows, however, that the approval process does not have to be long and stressful. The following tips will help make sure that your disability application for Social Security disability benefits has the best possible chance of being approved on the first try.
5 Secrets to Get Approved for Migraine Disability Benefits
1. Build a Migraine History
Use a headache diary (check out our options here) for at least three months to show how often you experience pain, dizziness, nausea, or other migraine symptoms. Be truthful and document everything — frequency, severity, treatment, and how migraine attacks impact your ability to work and function normally. You must show that your migraine attacks are frequent and severe enough, even with treatment, to keep you from carrying out the tasks required to work.
Why Headache on the Hill Is So Important for Migraine Advocacy
Inequities in Migraine Care: How One Black Woman’s Experiences Fuel Her Advocacy
Qulipta Shows Promising Results for Migraine Prevention
2. Ensure Your Doctor Supports Your Claim
Your application should show that you have received a migraine diagnosis and have been working with a qualified doctor for medical treatment (another reason to find the best headache specialist here) to bring your migraine attacks to a manageable level. Find a doctor near you.
If migraines interfere with your life even with a treatment plan and you are unable to work, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits as long as you have medical documentation. Do not apply for migraine disability benefits without getting your doctor or healthcare professional on board. The initial application requires only a single page from your doctor, but it is a valuable piece of documentation in support of your claim.
If your claim is denied and you end up appealing, your doctor will be required to be more involved with the application process. Making sure your doctor is on board from the beginning will ultimately save you time and stress, even if you must delay your application to find a more supportive doctor.
3. Educate the Evaluator on Migraine
Assume the person evaluating your claim knows nothing about migraine genetics, symptoms, duration, or progression. As a person with migraine, you know too well that migraine attacks are much more than just a headache, but those in charge of your claim may not.
Outline every symptom that you experience with a typical migraine attack at each of the potential phases: prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. Most important, show how those symptoms impact your daily functioning and your ability to work.
4. Be Specific About Your Disability
How does migraine affect your ability to work? Focus on your disability, not your illness. Proving that you are ill and/or in pain is the first step, but it is not enough for a decision in your favor. The Social Security Administration will reward disability benefits based on the fact that your ability to perform daily tasks is affected by your migraine attacks.
Be thorough in describing your level of impairment and, above all, be honest. Many people with migraine downplay their symptoms and their pain just to make it through the day, but the disability application is not the place to minimize your condition.
5. Detail Your Work History
After the Social Security office has determined that you are indeed impaired, it must determine your inability to work. Officials will first look at your work history to make sure that you are unable to perform the jobs you have held in the past. It is important to include details about your past jobs and their requirements. The disability office will award benefits only after it determines that you are unable to perform past work or any type of other work.
Not Ready to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits? You Have Options
If migraine attacks are impacting your work but you're not ready to go on long-term disability, here are some other options to consider:
Ask for Accommodations
Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for disability. Accommodations can be anything from filters over fluorescent lights to the ability to work remotely. Learn more about accommodations here.
Apply for Short-Term Disability
Some states offer short-term disability benefits. In California, for example, I was able to receive benefits through the state for one year. Short-term disability doesn't necessarily protect your job, but it will put some money in your pocket while you figure out your next move.
Apply for FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to keep your job (and health insurance) while taking an unpaid leave of absence. You can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave at a time, according to the American Migraine Foundation, and in some cases, you may be able to take intermittent time off.
The Takeaway
Following these steps will ensure that your disability application includes all of the information necessary for approval. However, do not be discouraged if your claim is initially denied. Most people who file are eventually approved for benefits as long as they are persistent.
If your chronic migraine attacks are frequent or severe enough to keep you from working, do not be afraid to apply for disability insurance. Winning your battle with chronic migraine is a daily struggle, and there is no shame in asking for help when you need it. The application process is well worth it for the freedom and peace of mind that comes when you are awarded benefits.
While you're waiting on a disability decision, consider these 11 jobs that can work for people with migraine if your particular case might allow you to work with more flexibility or accommodations.
For my story — including how I turned my blog into a full-time job — and migraine disability resources, see: How I Got Approved for Disability on the First Try.
