For those battling with disability, collecting Social Security benefits can be a challenging process. To first obtain Social Security benefits, the disability must meet criteria required by the Social Security Administration. Sometimes SSA does not recognize certain disabilities as being disabling. This makes it even more challenging for an individual to prove their case. Although the American Medical Association first acknowledged Fibromyalgia as an illness in 1987, Social Security did not consider Fibromyalgia as a medically determinable impairment and barley recognized it as a disability.
Fibromyalgia is a complex medical condition. It is characterized by pain in the joints, muscles, tendons, or nearby soft tissues that has persisted for at least 3 months. According to the American College of Rheumatology, Fibromyalgia is the second most common ailment affecting the musculoskeletal system after osteoarthritis. Fibromyalgia is a fairly common disease with about 1 in 50 Americans (between 3 and 6 million in the U.S) contracting it; middle aged women being the most common. Because of many physicians’ doubt in the legitimacy and severity of this disease, Social Security has been hesitant to consider it a disability.
Fibromyalgia and SSD
On July 25, 2012 the Social Security Administration switched gears and gave Fibromyalgia credibility as a disability. As stated earlier, to receive benefits, one must meet requirements of the specific disability. For Fibromyalgia, the individual must meet at least three descriptions from the criteria provided by the Social Security Administration. The individual will also need to provide medical and nonmedical documentation from a physician or family and friends. The criteria can be found on their website at: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2012-02-di-01.html
If you live in Tallahassee, Valdosta, Albany, Thomasville, Quincy, Panama City, Marianna or the surrounding areas and suffer from any disability, and need help supporting your claim from a Tallahassee Social Security Disability Attorney, contact the Law Offices of Matt Liebenhaut.
For more information about Fibromyalgia visit:
http://www.fmaware.org/new-home-page/
For more information about the Social Security Administration ruling and criteria visit:
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2012-02-di-01.html