Although fibromyalgia is a mysterious disorder with subjective symptoms, the pain and exhaustion it causes can severely impact a person’s life. The condition is characterized by over ten different symptoms including widespread and chronic pain, allodynia (i.e., pain caused by pressure), fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiff joints, difficulty swallowing, bowel issues, bladder issues, numbness, tingling, and cognitive dysfunction. The cause is unknown and the symptoms vary from person to person. Plus, because Social Security does not have a listing for fibromyalgia, many people suffering from the disease assume that they won’t be able to receive disability benefits. This simply isn’t true. If you’re wondering how to get Social Security disability for fibromyalgia, read on to learn more about how the SSA assesses fibromyalgia cases and what you need to do to succeed.
How to Get Social Security Disability for Fibromyalgia
So you’re wondering how to get Social Security disability for fibromyalgia? We have just the tips you need. Because of the subjective nature of the disorder, you will need to work hard to win your case. It’s all about working with your doctors to establish your disorder, proving your case with strong evidence, and staying strong through any necessary appeals.
- Visit your doctor regularly. Fibromyalgia symptoms vary from person to person, and the severity can fluctuate over time, so medical evidence is key to winning disability benefits. Your doctor will, of course, need to diagnose you with fibromyalgia after a comprehensive physical exam, but it’s also important that you have regular check-ups so that your doctor can monitor your condition. It is also extremely beneficial to see other specialists, such as an orthopedist or rheumatologist.
- Go over the criteria. The SSA will evaluate your claim based on the duration, severity, and frequency of your symptoms. Specifically, you need to have a history of widespread pain, severe symptoms, and proof that similar disorders were considered and ruled out based on solid evidence. If you haven’t had fibromyalgia for very long or the SSA determines that your symptoms are not severe enough to affect your work, you won’t qualify for disability benefits.
- Carefully prepare the documentation. Evidence is everything when it comes to Social Security disability benefits. Gather all of the medical evidence you can, including lab tests, medical records, doctors’ reports, etc. Statements from your employer will also be helpful if you have missed a lot of work or had trouble performing your duties due to pain, exhaustion, etc. Also, consider keeping a diary in which you track the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
- Don’t give up. Many people initially denied disability benefits go on to win their cases. Keep your head up, review your application, pay attention to deadline dates, and make your appeal. If your evidence is strong and you’ve followed our tips for how to get Social Security disability for fibromyalgia, you have every reason to believe you’ll succeed.
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Finally, if you’re wondering how to get Social Security disability for fibromyalgia, we highly recommend that you work with a disability representative. Not only will they be familiar with the system and ready to answer any questions that you have, but they will also monitor your case and stand by you throughout the application and appeals process. Contact BTS Group, Inc. Our kind, experienced representatives would be happy to help you prepare your case. Please give us a call at 1-866-441-4BTS (4287) to schedule your free consultation.