Migraine, work and benefits

Is migraine a disability?

Migraine can count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial and long-term effect on your daily life. Because attacks come and go, the law looks at whether the effect is likely to recur. Many people with frequent or severe migraine are covered.

Reasonable adjustments at work

Your employer must consider reasonable adjustments, such as:

• flexible hours or working from home during an attack
• a quiet, dark space to rest when an attack starts
• screen filters, adjusting lighting, or moving away from bright windows or flickering lights
• regular breaks and access to food and water
• not counting migraine-related absence in the same way as other sickness absence

Access to Work can help pay for equipment or support.

Driving

You do not usually need to tell the DVLA about migraine. But you should not drive during an attack or aura, or if your medicine makes you drowsy.

Benefits

PIP is based on how your condition affects you on most days (more than half of days over a year). This means people with occasional attacks usually do not qualify. But if you have frequent or chronic migraine, for example if you are affected on more than half of days, the effects may count, such as:

• not being able to prepare food safely during or after an attack
• needing prompting or help because of pain, sickness or confusion
• not being able to plan or follow a journey
• being unable to move around reliably

Keep a headache diary to show how often you are affected. It is strong evidence.

If you cannot work because of your health, you may be able to get Universal Credit or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. A free adviser, such as Citizens Advice, can help you check.