Getting SSDI or SSI Benefits for Migraines

Migraines are intense headaches sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensory disruptions known as auras. Auras may occur minutes or even hours before the migraine hits and often manifest as visual disturbances like seeing a set of zigzag lines or bright spots. Tunnel vision, blind spots, and intolerance to light and sound are commonly associated with auras.

The pain associated with a migraine can be debilitating. Many people are left with little choice but to lie down in a dark room and wait for the headache to pass. While it's not easy to get disability benefits based solely on migraines, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do count any limitations you have from your migraines when considering whether you're disabled.

Are Migraines a Disability?

If you have chronic, severe migraines that substantially interfere with your daily life, you may qualify for disability benefits. Veterans who have migraines as a result of their time in service can obtain a VA rating depending on how frequent and intense the migraines are. And both veterans and civilians can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if their migraines keep them from working full-time for at least one year.

Collecting Social Security Disability for Migraines

Under Social Security's sequential evaluation process, you can collect disability benefits if your medical condition is severe enough to meet the requirements of a "listed impairment" or cause functional limitations that rule out all jobs. You'll also need to show that you meet the preliminary eligibility criteria for either SSDI or SSI based on your work history and current financial needs.

Migraines and the SSA's Disability Listings

Social Security's listing of impairments (also known as the "Blue Book" as a nod to the historical color of the manual) contains hundreds of medical conditions that will automatically qualify a person for disability benefits. There's no specific listing specifically for migraines in the Blue Book, so you won't "meet a listing" solely by having migraines. But you may be able to "equal" a listing if you can show that your symptoms are equivalent in severity to a listing for a similar condition.

For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, migraines have many features in common with epileptic seizures. Because epilepsy is one of the Blue Book listed impairments, your neurologist may review the listing and conclude that your chronic migraines occur at a frequency and intensity that is equal to listing 11.02 for epilepsy.

Social Security Ruling 19-4p provides guidance on evaluating migraines under the epilepsy listing. Keep in mind that it's still very difficult to equal the epilepsy listing, which requires you to experience seizures or migraines despite adhering to treatment. (You can learn more about the listing in our article on adult epilepsy.)

Getting Disability for Migraines That Reduce Your Functional Capacity

Even if your migraines don't equal a listing, you may still be approved for disability benefits through a "medical-vocational allowance." This is, in fact, the most common path to receiving disability benefits. In determining whether you qualify, Social Security takes into account your age, educational level, employment history, and residual functional capacity (RFC) to see if any jobs exist nationwide that you can perform.

Your RFC reflects the most you can do, physically and mentally, despite your medical conditions. For example, somebody with chronic migraines may have an RFC that includes one or more of the following limitations:

• would miss more than two days of work per month due to pain
• would be off-task for at least 15% of the workday due to difficulty with concentration, and
• would require unscheduled breaks throughout the day because of auras, pain, or the side effects of medication.

Social Security must consider how your combined impairments affect your ability to work, so make sure to let the SSA know about every condition you're receiving treatment for. The agency can't include any restrictions that aren't documented in your medical records, which makes it important to be open with your doctors about how your migraines impact your daily activities.

VA Disability Rating for Migraines

The VA offers disability compensation to veterans who have medical conditions that were caused or made worse by their time on active duty ("service-connected"). Unlike the SSA, which only decides whether you're disabled or not disabled, the VA assigns a certain percentage ("rating") based on the veteran's degree of impairment.

Ratings are assigned by referring to the VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities. (38 CFR 4.) The VA rates migraines according to the following degrees:

Your disability rating percentage helps determine the amount of your monthly VA disability compensation. While a 0% rating doesn't entitle you to monetary compensation, you would still entitled to other benefits such as access to VA health care.

Medical Evidence You Need to Get Disability for Chronic Migraines

Neurologists typically diagnose migraines based on your reported symptoms and medical history. Although migraines don't appear on X-rays or MRIs, objective testing may be useful in ruling out other possible causes of headaches, such as multiple sclerosis. Many doctors suggest keeping a headache diary and recording detailed information about your headaches, such as:

• when the migraine occurred (date and time)
• how long the migraine lasted
• the pain intensity on a scale of 1-10
• a description of any auras or preceding symptoms
• possible triggers for the migraine, and
• medication dosages, side effects, and level of relief.

You should be able to obtain a headache diary from your physician or even construct a simple one yourself. Keeping a journal will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and strengthen your disability case for the SSA or VA. Consider asking your doctor if they'd be willing to provide a medical source statement about your migraines and how much your symptoms limit your ability to do basic work-related tasks, like maintaining regular attendance.

Migraines may be successfully controlled with medications such as beta blockers, antidepressants, or anti-seizure drugs. Medications known as triptans are used to alleviate migraine symptoms, but won't prevent migraines. Imitrex (sumatriptan) might be the best-known example. The SSA and VA will likely want to see that you've tried at least some form of medication for your migraines. If you have chronic migraines that persist despite medication, it helps support the conclusion that they keep you from working.

How Much Disability Can You Get for Migraines?

Social Security doesn't pay benefits based on the medical condition causing your disability. Instead, your monthly payments will depend on the type of disability program you qualify under.

SSI is a needs-based benefit for people with limited income and assets. If you're approved for SSI, you'll receive the federal benefit rate ($943 per month in 2024) minus any countable income you have for that month.

SSDI payments are calculated based on your work history and earnings record. If you've worked enough to become insured under SSDI, you can receive a monthly maximum of $3,822 in 2024, although the average payment amount is much lower, at $1,537 per month.

VA compensation is calculated based on your disability percentage rating and family size. For example, a veteran with a 50% disability rating and no dependents can receive $1,075.16 per month in 2024. If the same veteran had a dependent spouse and two children under the age of 18, they would receive $1,281.16 each month. VA compensation rates are adjusted every year to account for increases in the cost of living.

Apply for SSDI, SSI, or VA Benefits for Migraines

Many people who are filing for SSDI find it convenient to apply online at Social Security's web portal. SSI applicants can choose to start their claim online, but a representative from Social Security will need to contact you over the phone or schedule an in-person appointment to confirm your income and asset eligibility.

Both SSI and SSDI claims can be processed over the phone at 800-772-1213 (TTY 325-0778) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also visit your nearest Social Security field office. Field offices are typically open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., although some offices may have shorter hours on Wednesdays.

Veterans can file for VA benefits using the online Application for Disability Compensation (Form 21-526-EZ). You can also download the form and either fax it to 844-531-7818 (248-524-4260 from outside the U.S.) or bring it to your local VA office.

For more information about starting the disability application process, see our articles on filing for Social Security benefits and how to apply for VA benefits.

Should I Get a Lawyer to Help?

You're not required to have legal representation at any stage of the disability determination process, but it's generally a smart idea. A Social Security disability lawyer can help you navigate the (often frustrating) appeals process, help shore up your claim by obtaining the necessary medical evidence, and represent you at a hearing with an administrative law judge. And if you're applying for VA compensation as well as SSDI or SSI, you could benefit from hiring a veterans' disability attorney who has experience handling both kinds of claims.