Women are 7 times more likely to have fibromyalgia than men. We don't know why. We also don't know the cause of fibromyalgia, though we know the symptoms.
Will Social Security pay disability benefits for fibromyalgia? The answer is, yes maybe--if the symptoms are severe enough to prevent working and if there is really strong medical documentation. The best evidence comes from a rheumatologist.
Social Security now recognizes two sets of criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia: one from 1990 and one from 2010, both from the American College of Rheumatology. The 1990 criteria require the presence of 11 tender points. However, the updated 2010 criteria don't require any tender points at all.
For many years Social Security did not recognize fibromyalgia as a medically determinable impairment. Then, on July 25, 2012, they issued SSR 12.2(p), which does recognize fibromyalgia and defines how they will evaluate it.
Simply proving that you have fibromyalgia will not get a disability benefit. The question is whether your symptoms are severe enough to (a) prevent you from performing any of your past relevant work, if you are 50 years of age or older, or (b) prevent you from performing any work available in the national economy, if you are below age 50.
A careful analysis of your medical records will be necessary for decision makers to answer those questions.
When I represent fibromyalgia patients, I try to get written statements from the treating rheumatologist to pin down specific limitations on work-like activities. With millions of individuals suffering from fibromyalgia, Social Security is not going to award benefits unless there is medical evidence of very severe and debilitating symptoms resulting from the disease.
You may want to read the Social Security Ruling about fibromyalgia. Here is a link to it:
SSR 12.02(P) July 2012
For more information about representation by the Forsythe Firm, go to:
Forsythe Firm Website
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