Fibromyalgia and Social Security Disability

Gina - posted on 08/05/2012

ive been working on mine for 3 years now. yes 3 years of not working. ive had chronic pain for over 10 yrs. and i just got diagnosed with fibro over 2 years ago. I got a lawyer after my 2nd appeal. i tried to appeal my first appeal by letter, but that didnt work. Im still waiting on the advisory council to decide whether or not i get a chance to go back and see the judge again. Lord willing i will. I have a daughter that is also disabled with epilepsy and it took us 3 times to get her accepted(with the same lawyer). they just dont wanna help people anymore. she was having 50-100 seizures a day. It was like an act of God to get her approved.

Nicole - posted on 09/07/2011

Hi iam intrested in hearing from anyone in canada who has been denied disabilty for fibro..plse pm me and from people who were accepted for it..

Lisa - posted on 10/14/2009

I have applied for SS and been denied twice it has been 2 years just got my court date and i have a lawyer I pray that i get approved this time. I have fibro, db, herniated disc osteo migraines major depression blood clots just about you name it I've got it or it seems that way

Carolyn - posted on 10/13/2009

I live in Illinois. I retained an Atty when I applied for SSD in June 2008. I was denied 2 written times and just 2 weeks ago had video conference with a Judge in Maryland. I have Fibromyalgia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia, Major Depressive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and in July 2009, I had a total of 3 surgeries on my Right Foot, plus 2 Positive ANA Test Results that the Doctors are working on. SSD Decision may take from one month to Next Spring. I have the right to Appeal if Denied, but this process has already taken 16 months. My Atty says that Many People have to wait much longer. My COBRA Insurance for myself is costing just over $500.00 a month, I am on 15 daily Prescription Medications & could never afford to pay for them without insurance. I Pray that the Judge's decision is Quick & and in My Favor... And I would encourage Anyone that is applying for SSD to retain an Atty & let them do the majority of the work. It just might be the Atty you are working with, that will help you get Approved for SSD. They don't get paid unless You are approved.

Annalee - posted on 10/12/2009

My experience was horrible write to me and I will lwt you know..Annalee

Zoe - posted on 05/09/2009

Ack! It helps if I can spell links correctly! It's disabilityblogger.blogspot.com. Sorry about that!

Zoe - posted on 05/09/2009

The rates for approval for initial application vary from state to state. A good resource is disabiltyblogger.blogspot.com which is blog written by a former disability examiner. He also links to a website of his that answers a lot of questions (I forget the exact website address, but it's entitled Disability Secrets). A book I used to guide me through the disability process is the NOLO Guide for Getting and Keeping Social Security Disability Benefits.

It is difficult to get approved just on the basis of fibromyalgia because it's not well understood (though it is is the SSA "blue book" of conditions) so be sure to focus on the other issues that go along with it. I applied online and had my resume and medical records by my side and listed EVERYTHING -- basically taking the "kitchen sink" approach. Whether or not to apply online I think is a personal choice. It's tedious and I did it over a couple of weeks (you can save your application), but I found that my follow-up phone interview was very quick and easy as a result. I submitted as many medical records as I could and, really, they didn't actually ask my doctors for statements and went strictly by medical records. My doctors weren't even aware that I had applied until I told them. I was approved on initial application, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that I have several other health issues and I was very prepared for the process and followed up with the specialist handling my case and things like that.

Whether or not to hire an atty? Many attorneys won't take your case on until your initial application has been denied. The law limits how much an atty can make from a disability case, so these aren't big $$ making cases for them. With all the information I had in hand, I had decided at what point I would get an atty involved, and, basically, my approach was to get a decision on initial application as soon as I could so that I could proceed from there.

If you're denied on initial application, it's important to appeal ASAP. The same day if at all possible. If you know the ins and outs of your state and depending on your situation, you may even be able to ask for an expedited hearing. So there's lots to be learned about the process and it's extremely helpful to be empowered with information.

Very best to you!
Zoe

Jenny - posted on 05/06/2009

I applied for Disability and was denied within 6 mos. I have been on appeal since Oct.
The best thing you can do is hire an attorney. After I filed they have done the rest. It is
odd if you get approved in the beginning. The mental part was in my report but they still do not want to think This is a real illness. My attorney believes I will be finished with the appeal in Dec. It usually takes 12 - 18 mos. Good luck to you.

Liz - posted on 05/06/2009

I would also focus on any depression brought on by the FM, thats been my main focus and also focusing on my CFS and the anxiety brought on by it all....

Erin - posted on 05/06/2009

I went to my family doc to make sure she supports me in the decision to go on disability, she does. I'll be making an appointment to see my rhuemetologist soon as well. I do think that I'll be getting an attorney from the beginning... I don't have the energy to do it by myself. Now my husband is driving me crazy with rhetorical questions about how we'll afford everything when I go out. This was his idea!!!

Jen - posted on 05/05/2009

I was approved for Social Security on my first try in 2003 - I had been out on state disability for a year before that. I have FM, but instead of focusing on that we focused on the cognative problems and memory loss brought about by fibro fog and the ensuing depression.

I would advise anyone to do the same thing - SS canceled my physical with their doctor the day after they got the report from the psychiatrist.

Liz - posted on 05/05/2009

Hello, I also have FM, and its so hard with young ones, I have a two year old son with diabetes so life isnt easy, I am in the ssd process and it has not been easy. my best advice to you is to get someone to represent you. it makes the process a lot easier... good luck

Kris - posted on 05/05/2009

Hi I was diagnosed with fibrmyalgia, mercury poisoning and chronic fatigue 2 years ago 1 year after I had my 3rd child.