Migraine and Disability

Chelsea (chebbot),

Your post was so well-written and moving--every time you share your story, there is a reader out there (even if he or she is a lurker) whose life you're touching. Thank you.

We have a lot of information about migraine and disability on the site. I know you've done some research already, but I thought it'd be easiest for me to send you a few links.

1. Link to a general search for the term "disability" on the site: https://migraine.com/?s=disability&submit=Go
2. Some specific articles you may find useful:
https://migraine.com/blog/can-you-receive-disability-benefits-if-you-have-migraine-disease/
https://migraine.com/blog/social-security-disability-insurance-benefits-the-basics/
https://migraine.com/blog/disability-income-preparation-guide/

Take care. There is hope!

Thinking of you,
Janet G.
"The Migraine Girl"

Dear Chelsea;
I've been getting migraines since I was 11 as well, and despite being an A student, let me tell you, you are way ahead of the class! It took me until I was 53 to consider SS Disability.
My best advice is, unless you have a person in your life who is capable of and willing to handle all of the confusing mountains of paper work applying for disability entails, hire a disability attorney. I went with Binder and Binder, the guys on TV. I am so glad I did. There's still a lot of paper work to fill out, but at least you don't have to figure out who what where when and why. They tell you exactly what to do, and you mail everything back to them. They deal with SS for you.
It took me a little over 2 years for me to get benefits because I once worked for 6 months doing phone sales, and SS said I could still do that type of work. After being turned down twice, my case went to hearing. I had a #10 migraine that day and sat there with an ice pack. The judge asked if I'd be more comfortable if the lights were dimmed and I said yes. The SS job specialist at the hearing still said I could do phone sales. The written testimony from my doctor and from the SS doctor at the hearing was that I would miss 4 or more days per month due to severe migraines, and that my functional ability would be reduced on the days I did work due to less severe migraines as well as migraine meds. I got my award 3 weeks later, thank the Lord.
Chelsea, it IS possible to get disability due to your migraines. It MAY take longer than you think. DON'T get discouraged. It IS worth the wait. Most of all, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Best of luck~
Julie

Chelsea,
Janet gave you some great links to learn about your income options during disability But I thought i would share with you my personal experience. I applied in Feb of this year and just got approved. I was lucky it only took 5 months.

You are not worrying too soon about this issue. It can take years to get approved for social security disability.If you apply, you should consult an attorney or use an agency to help guide you through the process. It can be very cumbersome and doing it on your own can make the process take longer. I used a company called the Advocator Group (http://www.advocator.com/). They don't get paid unless your claim is awarded. They were super helpful.

Once approved, you can typically make between $700 and $1,000 a month without your benefits changing. If you decide you can work more hours, they give you a 9 month grace period to work without cutting off your benefits. So if you start working and then 2 months later realize you can't do it, you don't have to go through the application process all over again. But if you can work, either your benefits will be reduced or maybe discontinued depending on how muoh you work.

Here's something that will probably be of interest to you: If you get awarded SSDI benefits, you can apply to have your student loans forgiven! I am currently in this process.However if any time in the future you are able to go back to school, I do believe you would then have to pay back your past loans. Here's information from the company that handles these claims for the Dept of Education:
http://www.disabilitydischarge.com/home/

Also if you are approved, then 2 years later you are eligible for Medicaid benefits, which would help you since you may not have insurance.

And the governmetn webiste is very helpful too. http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

I know that your life plan was not to need help from the government. You may have people who don't understand. But these benefits are available for a reason and it would be a mistake to not find out if you can qualify. In the end, you have to take care of yourself. This could be a long and tedious process. Sometimes it felt like my full-time job, but since getting approved, it has been a huge weight off my shoulders.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be happy to help!
-Katie

I forgot to add~ Binder and Binder only get paid if you get your benefits, and they take their share out of your back pay award. The only bills you will have to pay during the process are minimal bills for medical records. After you are on disability, you are automatically eligible for medicare, although you might have to pay for a prescription plan. If you're 24 now, it's possible that you might be able to complete the application process by the time you're 26 if you start right away.
I know how frightening it is to have migraines and not to have medical insurance. In fact, I know how frightening it is to have migraines and 4 kids and no medical insurance. I'd say a prayer every time 1 of them went out with a bicycle or a skate board. Or I'd agonize over whether or not to use an Imitrex injection (this was when it just came out and was only available as an injection...the long-awaited miracle migraine med!) because they were so costly.
You're in my prayers,
Julie