Disability Benefits for Migraine
As someone who is fortunate enough to only suffer from Acute Migraine Syndrome as opposed to chronic migraines, I often find myself wondering how the other side is able to function when having to balance school, family, social life, and above all else, work, while constantly enduring migraines with debilitating symptoms.
I know from experience that as soon as a migraine sets in, I’m down and out for the next 8 hours at least. Thankfully, my migraines don’t occur as regularly as those of chronic migraine sufferers, so I can only begin to imagine how much of a challenge life must be when faced with that kind of debilitating pain on a regular basis.
Vision loss, vomiting, nausea, numbness, and speech impairment are just a few of the symptoms migraine sufferers experience, and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), migraines make the list for the one of the top 20 disabling conditions in the world. With that knowledge, applying for disability benefits may be something to consider if you’re a chronic migraine sufferer who is unable to work regularly.
Getting Started
Functioning on a daily basis becomes a nearly impossible challenge for those who experience regular, severe migraine headaches and often those sufferers can’t do much else than stay in a dark room for hours – or days – at a time.
If you’re thinking about applying for Social Security disability benefits, here are some of the things the Social Security Administration (SSA) will look at to determine if your migraines are considered to be a disability.
What They’re Looking For
Medical Records
In order to be approved for disability benefits for chronic migraines, it’s important that you’ve obtained consistent treatment, as SSA is mostly interested in unbiased medical evidence from a medical professional.
Although there is no diagnostic test for migraines, you will have to provide evidence stating that you have been diagnosed with recurrent migraines. Additional tests run by your doctor, such as CT scans or MRIs, should also be provided to SSA when applying for disability benefits.
Additional things SSA will be looking for in your medical file include tests conducted to rule out other possible conditions, list of medications or treatments and their results, records from migraine-related hospital visits, and doctors’ notes outlining the intensity and frequency of your migraine headaches.
