I have a relative that was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. She also has herniated discs in her neck and back. Her doctor wants her to see a psychiatrist as well. She has been out of work since March on medical leave and when she could not return, she was terminated.If she applies for social security and is found to also have anxiety or depression does that hinder her case?
–D
Jonathan Ginsberg responds: The quick answer to your question is "no, a diagnosis of anxiety or depression will not hurt your friend’s fibormyalgia Social Security case."
Fibromyalgia is a condition that I see more and more in my practice. It typically affects Type A, overachieving females and is characterized by all over body pain, digestive and balance issues, and pain moving all over the body.
Often it is associated with depression and anxiety – in fact, some physicians believe that there is a mental health component to fibromyalgia.
In pursuing her application for SSDI, I suspect that your friend will find that she will not get approved at the initial or reconsideration appeal levels, but will have to take her case to a judge. At the administrative levels (initial app and reconsideration), SSA employees are given very little latitude to exercise judgment – and fibromyalgia, almost by definition, is a disease of degrees. Have her visit my SSDI lawyer referral panel when and if she would like to speak with a lawyer.
I find that the best fibromyalgia cases for SSDI purposes are ones that involve multiple conditions and depression/anxiety.
Where depression and anxiety can be a problem is in the long term disability insurance area – since most LTD policies cap benefits at 2 years if the underlying condition is mental health.
[tags] fibromyalgia and social security disability, depression and fibromyalgia [/tags]