Migraine Headaches Support Group

I am currently in the approval process for disability. I suffer from chronic migraines 5 to 6 days a week. It is not my only disability and not my main disability, but its one of them. Right now, the average approval time for disability is 2.5 to 3.5 years unless you have one of 6 conditions that are considered terminal illnesses and then it can be done in as little as a year. Migraines do not qualify as a terminal disease.

To qualify for disability, you have to show that your condition, be it migraines for anything else, will cause you to be out of work for a minimum of 1 year and not only can you not do your job, but you can not do any job of any kind. The guidelines say if you can earn $550.00 a MONTH (not per week) then you are not disabled.

You can apply after you have been out of work for 5 months, but your pay cannot begin until you've been disabled for 1 year. If you are approved, you are put into a category of permanency for how often you are re-evaluated. It is either every 18 months, every 3 years or every 7 years depending on how serious your condition is and how long it is expected to last.

The reason it takes so long for the first approval is that since the economy has gotten so incredibly bad, there have been several million more disability applications, most of them fraudulent. People are out of work, and their unemployment has run out and in a last attempt effort for money, they are applying for disability. I learned all this from my lawyer. The Goverment has to go through each application to see which is real and which is not. At the same time, The bush administration cut the social security administration staff. It used be that each disability determination worker had 250 cases, now each worker has 1000 cases. Of course, this also makes for a lot more errors and a lot more denials. 90% of applications get denied the first time.

Once you've been out of work for 5 months, you can apply. Just be sure you are in a position where you can be out of work for the next 3+ years while you wait for a decision. If you work at all, you disqualify yourself.

Wow, thank you so much for the information! I can't believe how long it takes-what an eye opener! Good luck with your case!

I have been on disability for 6 years now. I got on it at 49. I was working part time than. Making under what is considered substancial income. AT that time it was under 700 per month. A supportive doctor is a must as they must fill out forms. A lawyer will usually help after you've been turned down. My lawyer said no test actually proves a mirgraine. so you need doctors record of your visits and meds. NOt working may be to a advantage, just in my case I was clinging to part time work. Yuo have to really show how the serverity of migraines messes up your everyday life and ability to earn income. He said it help if you are somewhat older as I was. He said he has won some migraine cases and lost some. It is a t edious process. but worth it for me. Need patience AFter 5 years I was reviewed, I now also have ulcerative colitis. Have some very bad days. They lieft me on it, thank God. A good lawyer will help, It is possible

Another thing about SS disability .. the benefit, like the retirement benefit, is set according to how much you have paid into your SS account. If you are young, and/or have not worked much over your lifetime, your benefit will be lower than someone who has earned more over their working life.
Each year, everyone gets a benefit letter stating the amount of your benefit were you to qualify.

It may or may not be worth the trouble to file. If you do decide, all the replies are good advice. You need a medical history, letters from doctor(s), and probably a lawyer. Most file a claim, get denied, then retain a lawyer.

Lawyers to not get paid unless you win. Then, they are only paid 15% of the back pay (from the time you filed to the time you are awarded) or $5,000 .. whichever is LOWER. Caveat ... this info may not be exactly accurate at this time. A lawyer will be glad to explain it to you.

I've had migraines since I can remember. I've been going thru disability for about a yr now. Every time a few months go by they have to request more paperwork from my neurologist, psychologist and therapist because I see them on a regular basis for treatment. My condition doesn't change. But I can't keep a job. I just tried to work again for the third time in three years and lost the job after a month. I missed a day and came in late another b/c of a migraine. I went from working 60-80 hrs a wk as a legal asst to not even being able to keep a job holding down a front desk of a hotel part-time. Why do they have to keep updating their paperwork? THey can't possibly keep it current with as often as I visit the drs.