HOW TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
HOW TO APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY WHEN YOU HAVE FIBROMYALGIA/CHRONIC FATIGUE AND WIN.
First of all I do not recommend that you lie to the caseworkers in any way. I was the first person to get Social Security Disability in Michigan because of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I was approved in December 1997. I did have a mentor that helped me through this process and I now want to help you as well.
The recommendation I received was to see my family doctor first. Then to see three to five specialists to have your diagnosis confirmed. I talked to my MD and he was not sure but thought I had Fibro/Chronic Fatigue. He sent me to two different Neurologists, who both told me I had this awful plague on our world. I also saw a Rheumatologist and he first told me that I did have FMS/CF but he also jumped all over me because I was using a wheelchair. “There is no pain associated with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue”. At this point I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to have this “CRUD” but I would be glad to SHARE it with that doctor.
I was a programmer for over 20 years and I could no longer remember how I programmed. I didn’t know that this problem could be associated with FM/CFS. I sought out a psychologist that was a customer and he did 14 tests to see what was going on. After he finished grading the test he told me I did have FM/CFS and also if I promised only to drive in the daytime with someone else in the car I would most likely be ok. “I ask him, are you saying that I should not be driving?” He said yes, so I told him to put it in writing. He explained that I could not drive because any auto insurance would not cover me. I had quit driving by this time myself. I was making the trip home at night and found that I had forgotten that I was driving and left the road, twice. That scared me for what I could have done to others.
The Social Security hired doctors looked over my medical information and easily agreed with it. I got my first response from Social Security after twenty two months that I was denied. I called the person that denied my case and ask him why? He said that he knew I was using a wheelchair but if I had a prescription from a doctor for one that would help. If I had been on pain medication that would have also helped my case. Well I did have a prescription for an electric wheelchair and was on narcotic pain medication. These happened after the doctors summited their reports so it was not in his records. After talking to him, he stated that he would talk to his supervisor and see what could be done.
I heard back from them that same day and they had decided if I could get them copies of my perscriptions for the wheelchair and pain medication they would not have me go through a several week delay but the supervisor would override the denial and give me Social Security disability. I received my back pay in two lump sums 30 days apart. We used that cash to move to the Southwest, as a down payment on a house and purchase a van.
Medicare is postponed till you have two years from the date you became ill before you can start using Medicare. With the six month waiting period and the twenty two months of waiting, I was able to use my Medicare right away. My sons split half of my amount to help with their needs. That meant we got 1 and ½ times the amount I was eligible for. That large lump sum really helped.
These are the steps you must take.
1. Fill out the twenty or so pages of questions that they will send you, also have your spouse help you with your part, then have them do the part for someone living with you.
2. Make sure that Social Security has all the medical records that have been generated starting after you were first seen for the “CRUD”.
3. On your visits to Social Security make sure they see you as you are on your worst days. If they see you all rested up and able to talk and communicate well, it might be hard for them to believe that you are disabled. Don’t lie but just make sure you are having a “not so good day” the day you have to go into their office. I did some things the day before that I knew would cost me the next day.
4. See three to five “specialist” they don’t take the word of a family practice doctor very well.
5. Keep checking on your documentation and see how well it’s coming along at Social Security by calling and asking each week. I also got my Senator’s office involved and they said I got mine early because each time they called for my case, my file got put on the top of the heap.
6. If your application is denied, contact the person that made the denial and see if something was overlooked like in my case.
I know that the processes may have changed. I would hope after all this time they would have the question sheets on a computer that you could fill in by now. But I know for sure that the above advice will help you get approved and faster than if you did not follow these instructions. I have passed these along to many people in the past, but this is the first time I put them on the internet.
