Social Security Tips for Fibromyalgia Patients

If you are trying to get Social Security disability for Fibromyalgia, you have to be able to prove that you cannot work, that you would not be consistent at being able to work.  I found out, after going through the whole Social Security disability maze, that you do not have to prove that you can’t EVER work again.  You just have to prove that you have not been able to work for the past year, of that you will not be able to work over the next year.

Jonathan Gilbert, who is a Social Security attorney in Georgia, offers several tips on how to win your SSDI case:

• You have to prove your ability, or lack of ability, to perform even the simplest job.  Mr. Gilbert says that “Your underlying medical condition FM, [CFS], or any other medical problem, is only important to the Social Security Judge if your symptoms limit you from performing a job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. “

The main thing a judge looks for is to see if you can hold down a simple, sit-down job, that requires no training, and you will have the option to sit, stand, or adjust yourself as you feel comfortable.

At my hearing, one of the questions asked by the judge to the vocational expert was would an employer tolerate my constant trips to the bathroom and my required afternoon nap?  The vocational expert said ABSOLUTELY NOT.

• Having good, complete medical records is very important.  Your physician will not be asked to determine whether or not he/she feels that you are disabled.  Your physician will be asked to write and determine how your medical condition would impact specific work situations.

• Mr. Gilbert suggests focusing on the specific symptoms of Fibromyalgia, not just saying you have generalized body pain.  You do have to be specific.  Make sure you include all the symptoms of Fibromyalgia: loss of balance, digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, slurred speech, vision problems, depression, swelling, memory loss, cognitive loss, fatigue, sleeplessness, etc.  It can be easy to forget about some of these because we live with them everyday.  I kept a daily journal and gave it to my lawyer for the judge to review.

For more information on Fibromyalgia Social Security tips, you can click here.