In July 2012, the Social Security Administration issued SSR 12-2p, which details how Fibromyalgia is evaluated for disability benefits.
Based on this ruling and our experience representing claimants, we have made some suggestions for individuals suffering from Fibromyalgia who are considering a Social Security disability claim.
1. Seek treatment by a rheumatologist. There are two sets of guidelines concerning Fibromyalgia, both from the American College of Rheumatology (1990, 2010).
2. Get your rheumatologist to provide you with a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), estimating specific functional limitations imposed by the disease.
The general requirement for Social Security disability is that you are limited to a point of not being able to sustain any full-time work that is available in the US economy. The easiest work, from an exertional standpoint, is sedentary work. If you are judged able to sustain sedentary unskilled work your benefit will usually be denied. Claimants age 50 and over may get a break because of the Medical-Vocational Guidelines.
SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE in HUNTSVILLE
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