New Yorkers suffering from fibromyalgia deal with extreme symptoms that may make it difficult to enjoy life. Between the pain, extreme fatigue and the stress of trying to get by on a low income or none, the entire thing can feel overwhelming.
Social Security does not include fibromyalgia on its list of disabilities, which makes applying for disability insurance, or SSDI more difficult. Recently, Social Security has made changes that may help those with fibromyalgia get benefits. At Pashler Devereaux, we strive to furnish you with the latest information on getting benefits with a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Other Medical Conditions
If you apply for SSDI with only fibromyalgia on your application, you will likely get a denial letter. Because there is not enough research and findings on the disease, Social Security does not yet acknowledge it as a stand-alone condition. You probably did not get your fibro diagnosis overnight, and you may have other illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, if you have other well documented medical conditions, you need to add them to the application for SSDI along with fibromyalgia.
Medically determinable impairment
For SSDI to accept your application and administer benefits, it must classify your impairment as a medically determinable one. This means you must have the evidence to support your claims of pain across your body, but especially in the chest, back and neck. Your records must show that you went through a variety of tests to eliminate other conditions. You must also have 11 tender points identified from the waist up to the head along with six symptoms indicative of the disease.
This does not mean you will necessarily get accepted the first time you submit, but do not give up. To gain more insight, visit our webpage here.