The blue books official title is disability evaluation under social security. You dont need to meet a blue book listing to qualify for disability benefits. Some claimants with fibromyalgia also experience chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression. Qualifying for social security disability for stenosis. You must have a positive imaging test mri, myelography, andor ct scan showing evidence of lumbar spinal stenosis. Our firm continues to run exactly as it has for the last 29 years, representing good people who have come across financial hardship and disability. Chronic pain is not a listed impairment in social securitys blue book, the listing of impairments that may automatically qualify you for disability benefits. The blue book listing of impairments, the social security rulings, and the compassionate allowance list. Getting social security disability for fibromyalgia in raleigh fibromyalgia causes widespread pain in the body. Autoimmune disorders are caused by dysfunctional immune responses directed against the bodys own tissues, resulting in chronic, multisystem impairments that differ in clinical manifestations, course, and outcome. When a persons fibromyalgia symptoms are so severe that they become debilitating and the person can no longer work, it is possible to obtain social security disability benefits. Disability lawyer info, disability back pay social security disability ssi list of conditions and impairments many medical conditionsphysical, psychological, and psychiatricare contained in the social security administrations blue book listings, otherwise known as the publication, disability evaluation under social security.
Most commonly referred to as just the blue book, it lists in great detail, all the qualifying medical conditions that meet ssas test for whether or not a condition is considered a qualifying. Musculoskeletal system social security disability resource. While shingles can be extremely painful and debilitating, the ssa doesnt list it in the blue book of eligible disabilities. Medical disability qualification details are listed categorically to make it easier to find disability impairments. The social security administration ssa uses the blue book to determine whether someone has a disability that prevents them from working. Social security disability for chronic pain caused by shingles. The blue book functions as a guide to determine if an applicant qualifies for disability benefits. They are sometimes referred to as rheumatic diseases, connective tissue disorders, or collagen.
How to apply for disability benefits with fibromyalgia. In our continued effort to protect the publics health, our clients, and our future clients, we are available by phone or video conference. Social security disability blue book social security. Social security has three special lists of conditions and impairments. Fibromyalgia and social security disability citizens.
How i got approved for disability for fibromyalgia how. Getting social security disability for fibromyalgia in. Arthritis is considered under the musculoskeletal body system and has. However, migraine can be symptoms of other health problems that are listed in the blue book. Qualifying for benefits under a disability listing. Unfortunately, there is no listing for fibromyalgia in social securitys guide to disabling conditions also known as the blue book, so proving total disability and achieving disability benefits because of an fm diagnosis can be difficult because there are no specific criteria for approval.
Social security s ruling explains when fibromyalgia should be found as a medically determinable impairment, the first test you must pass when applying for disability. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimants impairment s, treatment sources, and other information that relates to. What medical conditions qualify for social security. Ssdi and fibromyalgia what you need to know social. Disability evaluation under social security listing of impairments adult listings part a. To qualify for disability because of spinal stenosis, you must meet several requirements. Social securitys ruling explains when fibromyalgia should be found as a medically determinable impairment, the first test you must pass when applying for disability. Unfortunately, there is no listing for fibromyalgia in social security s guide to disabling conditions also known as the blue book, so proving total disability and achieving disability benefits because of an fm diagnosis can be difficult because there are no specific criteria for approval. However, it wasnt until 1981 when it was named and recognized as a true medical condition by. First of all, theres no disability listing for the condition. How someone with chronic migraine can qualify for social. Fibromyalgia and social security disability the chronic condition which causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness in a persons joints, muscles, or tendons is called fibromyalgia. The social security administration recognizes brain aneurysms as an impairment in their blue book and you may qualify for disability benefits if certain conditions are.
Some impairments commonly listed on social security disability claims that may not match a blue book listing include fibromyalgia, celiac disease, degenerative disc disease, chronic regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Social security blue book medical index hoglund law. Because of this, it is very common for an initial social security disability claim to be denied when the application is based on a fibromyalgia diagnosis. However, some of our readers have found these lists to be a useful tool to help them get. To get disability for chronic pain from shingles, you must also have one of the following qualifying secondary medical conditions. Despite the fact that lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the country, reaching epidemic proportions in the united states with cases by far outnumbering those of aids, west nile virus, swine and avian flu combined, you refuse to recognize lyme disease in your official list of impairments known hereafter as blue book. The social security administration uses the blue book, which is an impairment listing manual used to determine whether a claimant is eligible to receive social security disability or ssi. People with fibromyalgia often see ssdi rejection for a few reasons. In order to qualify for social security benefits for your mental illness your condition must be diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a physciatrist and meet the criteria from the ssa.
The social security blue book listing of impairments. To determine what qualifies as a disability, social security bases many of their decisions on information contained in the blue book of impairments. How the social security blue book of impairments can. Fibromyalgia and social security disability disability. To qualify for disability with fibromyalgia, a person applying for disability must show that their condition is. Fibromyalgia is not specifically discussed in the social security administrations ssa blue book listing of disabling conditions but dont worry. If fibromyalgia prevents you from earning a living you should consider filing a disability claim with the social security administration ssa. With such a wide variation of disorders and conditions, the social security administration created a guide for their own representatives and other physicians to determine if an applicant potentially qualifies for disability benefits. Will social security approve disability benefits for. How social security evaluates chronic pain in disability.
Fibromyalgia and social security disability benefits fibromyalgia is a chronic condition which can cause stiffness and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia and social security disability benefits. Ten stories from super smart people who did super smart things to win their social security disability cases for fibromyalgia or for a combination of conditions including fibromyalgia. If you can pass these threshold tests, social security will assess whether your impairment qualifies for disability benefits. Fibromyalgia is not currently an impairment included in the social security administration impairments listing manual called blue book.
These cases are difficult, but not impossible, to win if you take the right steps. These symptoms may be so severe that prevents a persons ability to work. The blue book lists specific criteria that under which claimants who suffer from a disabling condition can qualify for social security disability benefits. Social security uses the blue book of medical conditions to determine if someone is eligible to receive social security disability benefits. The ruling relies on criteria issued by the american college of rheumatology acr to determine whether an applicant has fibromyalgia. Disability and mecfs myalgic encephalomyelitischronic. Disability evaluation under social security blue book september 2008 the social security administration ssa has prepared an online guide disability evaluation under social security external icon to provide physicians and other health professionals with an understanding of how its disability programs are administered. The social security administration ssa does not list fibromyalgia as a qualifying condition in its listing of social security disability impairments. The specific list of severe impairments used by the social security administration to decide disability cases from social security disability determination the blue book. How to qualify for social security disability for chronic pain. Brain aneurysms and qualifying for social security. Fibromyalgia is one of the most cited allegations on applications for disability that are filed with the social security administration under ssd or ssi. Disability evaluation under social security blue book september 2008 this edition of disability evaluation under social security, also known as the blue. See more ideas about disability, social security and social security benefits.
Disability evaluation under social security listing of impairments adult listings part a the following sections contain medical criteria that apply to the evaluation of impairments in adults age 18 and over and that may apply to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18 if the disease processes have a similar effect on adults. Social security disability claims based on fibromyalgia can be some of the most difficult cases for disability applicants to win. These lists are not terribly easy to read or understand. Chronic pain is not a listed impairment in social security s blue book, the listing of impairments that may automatically qualify you for disability benefits. The social security administration ssa recognizes a wide variety of mental disorders as having the potential to cause total long term disability. With the assistance of several physicians and medical experts, the social security administration developed the blue book. To find out if you qualify, check the blue book listing for a specific disability or disabling condition. This book contains criteria you need to meet to get approved for ssdi or ssi benefits. If you are applying for disability, you might also wish to check out this page, which has special forms your doctor can fill out to help document your. However, if it can be proven that your symptoms are disruptive, and distracting enough to keep you from working a fulltime job, you may be able to get benefits. Social security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online.
The blue books official title is disability evaluation under social security, and it contains a wealth of information about disabling impairments and the ssas criteria to help those applying for benefits. Ssa blue book pdf disability evaluation under social security has been specially prepared to provide physicians and other health professionals with an understanding of the. Book, has been specially prepared to provide physicians and other health. It covers a lot of the recommended medical evidence, as well, and it can be extremely helpful. How to use the blue book to get approved for disability.