Is Your Fibromyalgia Severe Enough to Qualify you for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability benefits are reserved for those who have medical conditions serious enough that working is not an option. In some cases, like those concerning people with Fibromyalgia, the condition may not be severe enough sometimes to qualify them for benefits. Fibromyalgia is a special case because some days the symptoms may be mild and other days they may be severe- leaving the decision of whether or not to include Fibromyalgia in limbo. A recent ruling released July 25th, 2012 by the Social Security Administration details how Fibromyalgia cases will be evaluated to help the decision on whether to include the condition for benefits. A physician’s opinion alone will no longer be enough to be the factor determining benefits; evidence in addition to diagnosis is now required. Fibromyalgia qualifies if the following factors exist:

1. A history (lasting longer than three months) of widespread pain
2. At least 11 positive tender points on the body (there are 18 total tender point sites, positive being if the patient experiences pain when palpitated in the area)
3. Evidence that other disorders that could have caused these symptoms are ruled out.

In another possible instance, numbers one and three above remain the same where number two is replaced with six or more Fibromyalgia symptoms: fatigue, cognitive or memory problems, waking un-refreshed from sleep, depression, anxiety disorder or irritable bowel syndrome.

Pay attention to your symptoms and be sure to get the benefits you deserve if your Fibromyalgia qualifies you to do so.