As I mentioned in my most recent post about HOH, we asked Congress to include migraine and other headache disorders for Social Security benefits. Many Americans are debilitated by the disease and end up out of work or unable to attend school because of their headache disorders. Most Americans with disease who are unemployed can apply for Social Security benefits that allow them to be financially independent. Unfortunately, headache disorders are not specifically identified as a reason to qualify for federal benefits. This means patients with headache disorders are directed to apply under the epilepsy criteria. As headache disorders are distinct from epilepsy, patients are often left unaccounted for in federal benefits. This is both an incredibly strenuous obstacle for individuals who don't have the finances to be live sustainable lives, but also hurt's our nation's growth because it leaves hundreds unemployed. To account for this, at HOH, advocates alongside the Alliance for Headache Disorder Advocacy asked Congress to include headache disorder in the Blue Book, or list of diseases that qualify for Social Security Insurance. You can help too! You can send a letter to your members in Congress asking them to help Americans disabled by headache disorders. Additionally, this letter would request that the members of Congress direct already allocated NIH funds towards migraine research. Please participate in this amazing opportunity!