Fibromyalgia & Disability Benefits?

[Vee Marie]

Has anyone in here with Fibromyalgia had success being approved for SSA Disability Benefits? If yes: any helpful pointers?

I just got off the phone with an advocate who told me that Fibromyalgia is the single most difficult disability to get approval of SSA Disability Benefits for. She told me that without a doubt my first - and most likely second - requests will be automatically declined.

Does anyone in here have any info / advice / experience to offer? Any and all replies would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

[Gentle Rains]

It took me 2 years and the 2nd attempt to get disability for fibro. I think it was all in the lawyer I used.

[Vee Marie]

Thank you for your replies Gentle Rains & Sue - you've confirmed what I was told. Ugh.

[MANDY]

I APPLIED LAST OCTOBER AND IN DECEMBER THEY DENIED IT ..I LIVE IN NY ..ONE OF THE HARDEST STATE TO GET DISABILITY BUT I REQUESTED A FAIR HEARING AND HAVE A LAWYER ..THEY DONT HAVE U PAY UNLESS U WIN THEN THEY TAKE 20% OF MY BACK PAYMENTS. HOPE THAT I GET IT THIS TIME AND IM POSITIVE I WILL BECAUSE OF THE LAWYER WILLING TO TAKE MY CASE THEY MUST KNOW THEY HAVE A WINNING CASE BECAUSE THEY WOULDNT TAKE A CASE IF THEY THINK THEY WILL LOSE. GOOD LUCK WITH IT THOUGH HUN ...IT DOES TAKE A LONG TIME BUT IF U APPLY AND THEY DENY REQUEST A FAIR HEARING ASAP SO THEY DONT CLOSE UR CASE AND THEN U WOULD HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. HOPE I HELPED YA SOME.

[Enid Weiser]

Dear Mandy,

Best of luck with this.

-Enid

[Vee Marie]

Thanks Mandy for the head's up re: requesting a fair hearing asap - I knew that that was one of the steps ... I just didn't know that it had to be asap and that the case would get closed without it. Thanks much!!

Also: sending many best luck wishes your way - please let me know how it turns out for you! -Vee.