Fibromyalgia disability process

The Fibromyalgia disability process page house the information on the United States Social Security Insurance/Social Security Disability (SSI/SSD) and Long Term Disability (LTD) process for Fibromyalgia. Information on this page may help patients in other countries. This page is for information purposes only. It is not legal advice and it should not be relied upon in taking steps to file for disability.

United States
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5puJl5Ndt-g Please Note: The following is NOT legal advice and it should not be relied upon in taking steps for a disability case. Only the Social Security Administration (SSA) and a disability lawyer can provide the most up to date and the correct legal avenue for bringing a disability case.

In the US, SSI and SSD benefits are available for fibromyalgia. Generally, for SSI/SSD, notes and tests from a Primary Provider may be allowed for submission (if a specialist has reviewed the tests) but Specialists such as a rheumatologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, etc. are required for diagnosis, ongoing treatment, and completing SSI/SSD paperwork.

The SSA now accepts a diagnosis of fibromyalgia with the 1990 or 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.

SSI/SSD information and help

 * Fibromyalgia: Policy Interpretation Ruling - Social Security


 * Social Security Disability (SSDI & SSI) for Fibromyalgia - Disability Secrets


 * Fibromyalgia Disability
 * Applying for Disability With Fibromyalgia One patient's success of applying, denial, successful appeal, and a breakdown of what SSI/SSD requires for the medical determination of a favorable decision of disability.

For documentation of symptoms and co-morbidities of an FM diagnosis, you and your doctor should consider the following examinations and tests:

Examinations and tests
Not every test will be recommended by your doctor or be necessary if patient is not exhibiting certain symptoms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfppkSYFgYg

Fibromyaglia diagnostic examination

 * Rheumatologist examination and diagnosis of FM. (Consider having a rheumatologist order tests and coordinate referrals of other specialists for examinations and testing. Only specialists can complete Social Security paperwork. A primary doctor cannot complete disability paperwork but may be able to forward test results they have ordered if a specialist has reviewed them.)

Arthritis

 * Whole body bone scan (bone scintigraphy) to rule out treatable arthritis.

FM/a® blood test

 * FM/a® Test  is a blood test to diagnose Fibromyalgia "EpicGenetics' FM/a® Test is an FDA-compliant blood test that has been in use since 2012 and has successfully diagnosed patients with fibromyalgia from around the world. This simple blood test recognizes the immune system’s multi-biomarkers which are unique to fibromyalgia."
 * Routine blood tests for diabetes (fasting sugar/glucose, A1C) and a full thyroid disease panel (TSH, T3, Free T3, T4, and Free T4).


 * Rule out rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, lyme disease and other diseases that can share some of the same symptoms of fibromyalgia and may be treatable.
 * Vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as Vitamin B12 and vitamin D  can affect your fibromyalgia and are treatable with over-the-counter supplements and prescription medications which might improve fatigue and pain.

Gastrointestinal

 * Irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis which may require a blood test, upper endoscopy to rule out celiac disease,  and fecal tests to check for bacteria (SIBO) and intestinal parasites.

Mental health and cognition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H5FZTAic7c
 * Psychiatric evaluation as any depression and anxiety should be treated.
 * Cognitive dysfunction tests.

Orthostatic intolerance

 * Tilt table test
 * Will diagnose orthostatic intolerance or POTS.

Sleep dysfunction

 * Sleep study for restless legs syndrome and sleep disturbance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Iol892EPw

TMJ, tinnitus, vertigo, and dizziness
What to Expect at Your VNG/ENG Test
 * An ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) (otorhinolaryngology) examination and imaging may be ordered for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
 * Lymph infections, and ear, sinus, throat and tinnitus can also be documented (although not found to be FM related.)
 * Videonystagmography (VNG) testing if you experience dizziness.

Of course, one can have arthritis, sleep apnea, chronic lyme disease or other diseases and still have FM, but there may be a treatable condition where a patient's overall health, including their FM, improves.

There have been cases of vitamin D deficiency being misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia as a D deficiency can cause pain. Supplementation or prescribed D treatments may alleviate this pain. However, it is possible to have both a D deficiency and fibromyalgia and correcting the deficiency will only resolve the pain stemming from it.

Learn more

 * Resources for getting approved for disability include this Guide to Social Security Disability for People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, available on the #MEAction website.


 * How Patty’s Lawyer Never Told Her What She Needed to Know


 * Sample Doctor Letters for Disability

LTD claims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lh9TZ-Snps
 * 2017, Fibromyalgia: Are Courts Starting To Favor Long Term Disability Claimants?

SSI/SSD legal process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfUHO-CQTN0
 * 2014, Social Security Disability and Fibromyalgia: is there any Hope I can Win?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Q-lHJ5w1g
 * 2018, Fibromyalgia and Social Security Disability: Doctor's Advice