Tips & Tools
Approval for disability benefits can be an uphill battle. In the United States, migraine disease is not considered severe enough to warrant disability, so most claims are denied immediately. However, the process is not impossible. It can even go smoothly if you are prepared and well-informed. Here are some tips to help you along your journey to getting approved:
Get familiar with the Family Medical Leave Act
Depending on how long you’re planning to be away from work, the FMLA can be essential in protecting your employment. This act protects your job at any company with over 50 employees for 12 weeks during each 12 month period. It ensures that your health insurance is still covered. You must be able to return to your job at the end of the period.
Understand the difference between short- and long-term disability
Short-term disability is a stopgap for taking time off while waiting for long-term disability to kick in. This is usually for a period of 90 days. You’ll want to communicate with your employer about your options in this crucial waiting period.
Talk with your evaluator about the nuances of migraine
The person evaluating your disability claim may know nothing about migraine disease. They may even think of it as just a headache. It is important to change their mind so they can understand what you’re experiencing. Catalogue all your migraine symptoms in a headache diary, from aura to postdrome and on.
Build a migraine history
Write, write, write! Write, write, write! The best way to document your disease is to write it down. Keep a headache diary for at least three months. This makes it clear that your migraine is painful, and even with treatment, it prevents you from working.
Make sure you have support from your doctor
If you don’t have a doctor on board, it's unlikely your claim will be accepted. Showing that you’ve sought medical treatment from a qualified doctor is a huge step toward receiving disability.
Buckle up for a lot of paperwork
You’re applying for disability because you can’t manage your pain while working full-time. This means that you will likely need help with the mountains of paperwork involved. Be honest about your limitations. Ask for help when you need it!
Determine if you need Social Security Disability Income
Short- and long-term disability is provided by your employer. Separately, SSDI comes directly from the government. Some employers require that you apply for SSDI in addition to their support. Research what you will need for an application.
Get familiar with the Family Medical Leave Act
Depending on how long you’re planning to be away from work, the FMLA can be essential in protecting your employment. This act protects your job at any company with over 50 employees for 12 weeks during each 12 month period, and ensures that your health insurance is still covered and you must be able to return to your job at the end of the period.
Make sure you have support from your doctor
If you don’t have a doctor on board, you can be pretty sure that your claim will not be accepted. Showing that you’ve sought medical treatment from a qualified doctor is a huge step towards receiving disability.
Understand the difference between short- and long-term disability
Short-term disability is a stopgap for taking time off and waiting for long-term disability to kick in. This is usually for a period of 90 days, but you’ll want to communicate with your employer about what your options are in this crucial waiting period.
Buckle up for a lot of paperwork
The reason you’re applying for disability is because you can’t manage your pain and still work full-time, so understand that you will likely need help with the mountains of paperwork involved. Be honest about your limitations and ask for help when you need it!
Talk with your evaluator about the nuances of Migraine
The person evaluating your disability claim may know nothing about Migraine disease, and even think of it as ‘just a headache’. Remember that it is important to change their mind so they can understand what you’re going through. Make sure you’ve catalogued all your migraine symptoms in a headache diary, from aura to postdrome and on.
Determine if you need Social Security Disability Income
While short and long term disability is provided by your employer, SSDI comes directly from the government. Some employers will require that you apply for SSDI in addition to their support, so make sure to research what you will need for an application.
Build a Migraine History
Write, write, write! The best way to document your disease is to write it down. Keeping a headache diary for at least three months will make it clear that your migraine is not only painful, but also prevents you from working even with treatment.
There is a treasure trove of resources out there to help you find your way. Together, we don’t have to go it alone.
Change language. Reduce stigma.
The language used by medical experts, the media, the public, and stakeholders of this community can greatly impact how people living with headache diseases are perceived and treated. This, in turn, affects the resources society makes available to support the community’s pain and disability.
Out of My Head
A filmmaker, seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks, discovers a confounding neurological disease and learns why a devastating condition, afflicting nearly a billion people worldwide, remains so deeply misunderstood.
Can children have headache disease?
Are you concerned your child might have a headache disease? Learn about migraine symptoms, cluster and headache diseases in children, how to spot them, and other tips to help you and your child.
