Migraine headaches may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, depending on their frequency, severity and response to medication.
Three million Americans will be diagnosed with Migraine headaches this year. The severity ranges from mild to debilitating. Three questions will determine whether or not these migraines can qualify for SSDI benefits:
1) Are often do they occur? A migraine that occurs once a month or less often is probably not disabling.
2) How severe are the migraines? How do they limit your activities? A migraine that allows you to continue normal daily activities, including work, is not disabling. However, a migraine that lasts several hours, requires you to lie down in a dark room and stop most activity, certainly may be disabling.
3) How well have you responded to appropriate medical treatment? If your headaches are relatively controlled by one of the serotonin receptor agonists (triptans), such as Imitrex, you may still be able to work with migraines. However, if medical intervention has failed and your migraines are still chronic, frequent and severe, you may not be able to work.
I often get claimants approved for severe migraines when they can demonstrate with medical evidence that they would miss more than 1 or 2 days per month due to migraines and have tried medical intervention over a long period of time without relief. Even if a person can go to work with a migraine, how much time would he or she be off task due to pain? Generally, if a person is going to be off task more than about 10 percent of the time, this is excessive and disabling.
I can't emphasize how important it is to have medical evidence from your doctor. In addition to routine doctor's records, we will try to get a Medical Source Statement from your doctor which explains how migraines limit your ability to do work-related activities, especially in the area of concentration, remembering and following directions, staying on task, etc. The more complete the medical record, the greater the chance of being approved for disability benefits.
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
PH (256) 799-0297
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