Migraine Headaches and Social Security Disability

A diagnosis of migraine headaches can support a claim for Social Security disability. This is because the main issue in your Social Security disability case relates to whether you can perform any type of work. If you experience migraine headaches regularly and the severity of these headaches is severe, you would not be a reliable worker at any type of job.

How to Win Your Migraine Disability Case

Social Security defines “disability” as the inability to perform full time work because of a medically determinable condition that has lasted 12 consecutive months or may result in death. As a migraine headache patient, you can meet this definition by presenting evidence that shows that you suffer from “level 10″ headaches frequently, thereby causing you to be a less reliable worker. For example, a claimant who experiences two “level 10″ headaches each week that last four hours apiece would end up missing 2 days of work per week, or as many as 8 days of work per month. This level of absenteeism is not consistent with full time work in a competitive job environment and could result in a finding of “disabled” at a Social Security hearing.

Winning your Social Security case, of course, requires that you do more than simply stating that you believe that you are disabled. You have to produce evidence, which may include:

medical records
employment records
statements from former co-workers or supervisors
medications lists

This is where an experienced Social Security disability lawyer comes in. A good attorney can greatly improve your chances at winning by performing the following tasks:

obtaining current medical records and other evidence
identifying evidence not currently in your medical file and obtaining it from your medical providers
submitting evidence electronically to the Social Security Administration
developing a winning “theory of disability” for your case
reviewing the Social Security file to verify that SSA has the correct “onset date” for your disability
reviewing the Social Security file to determine if there are any previous contacts with Social Security that may make you eligible for a larger back benefit check
reviewing Social Security’s earnings record associated with your Social Security number for errors or omissions
preparing a pre-hearing brief
preparing you to testify before a Social Security judge
preparing a current medications list and researching side effects and complications
evaluating your work history and preparing direct and cross examination of the vocational witness who will appear at your hearing

If you are interested in pursuing a disability claim based on Migraines, or are currently in the process of a claim and would like a complimentary case evaluation, please use the contact form on the right.

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