Migraine Headaches & Disability Benefits

Can migraine headaches qualify for Social Security disability benefits?

The answer is, Yes, if they are severe and chronic.

In order for migraines to be disabling and qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits, the following are generally guidelines.

  • Headaches are chronic and frequent; I consider frequent to be at least 3 times a month.
  • Headaches are severe, so debilitating that they would require you to miss work at least 2 or 3 days a month.
  • Headaches last several hours (maybe all day), even though you take recommended medications.
  • Headaches are intractable to treatment; you have tried prescription medicines and they don't control the headaches in terms of severity, frequency and duration. 
Social Security will consider the medical evidence and whether it is reasonable to assume that you cannot perform any work on a "constant and continual basis," which usually means 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  They will look at required absences due to headaches and how much you will be off task because of the pain and other symptoms.

Treatment by a qualified medical doctor, preferably a neurologist or headache specialist, is helpful.  Headache symptoms must be documented by medical records.

FORSYTHE FIRM: SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE 

CALL US (256) 799-0297 

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