Can I Qualify for SSDI Payments for Migraines?
As anyone who suffers from migraines knows, experiencing a migraine can be debilitating. Indeed, according to the American Migraine Foundation, about 90 percent of people who report experiencing migraine also indicated that this disease “interferes with practically all areas of daily life: education, career, social activities, and more.” Given that migraines can be debilitating, if you suffer from this disease, you may be wondering if you could be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. It will depend on your particular circumstances. It can be difficult to be approved for SSDI benefits due to migraine, but it is possible. Our national disability benefits lawyers can tell you more.
What is Migraine?
Many people assume that migraine is just a “bad headache,” but as the American Migraine Foundation emphasizes, migraine is actually a “disabling disease that affects 39 million people in the United States.” It is actually a type of neurological disease, and there is currently no known cure for it. It can affect any person of any age, and the symptoms can vary widely from person to person. For some, the disease is chronic and causes symptoms for more than half of the days every month. For others, the symptoms may be less severe and more sporadic.
Symptoms often include head pain, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea, brain fog, and dizziness, according to the American Migraine Foundation. There are different forms of treatment available, including treatments designed to prevent migraine attacks, acute treatments to relieve symptoms when a migraine attack occurs, and both behavioral and lifestyle changes and treatments designed to decrease the frequency and severity of migraines. The success of such treatments tend to vary from person to person.
SSDI Approval for Migraine
What will you need to do in order to be approved for SSDI benefits for migraine? The Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book does not expressly identify migraine under Section 11.00 of neurological conditions, but you can still be approved if you can show that your experience with migraine is expected to last for at least 12 months and that it prevents you from engaging in “substantial gainful activity” (essentially, that it prevents you from working).
Given that there are various treatments for migraines, you may need to show that the treatment options have not resulted in a substantial improvement of your symptoms. You will also need medical documentation that confirms your diagnosis with and experience of this disease.
Contact a National Disability Benefits Attorney for Assistance Today
Do you suffer from migraine, and does the disease prevent you from being able to work? If so, you could be eligible for SSDI benefits. It will be important to discuss the details of your medical record and work record with one of the experienced national SSDI benefits lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. We can assist you with your initial application for SSDI benefits to give you the best chance of approval, and if you have already applied and been denied, we are here to help with your appeal. Contact our firm today to find out more about how we can assist you with your SSDI case.
Sources:
americanmigrainefoundation.org/migraine-101/
ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm
