Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Can I Claim Disability for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Michigan and Ohio?
You can apply for disability benefits if chronic fatigue syndrome prevents you from working, but convincing Social Security that you meet its standard for disability could be an ordeal.
You don’t just need to show that your health makes it difficult to work. You need to convince a claims examiner that you cannot work any job for 12 months or longer.
This is always a challenge with Social Security Disability claims, but it can be especially tough to make a persuasive claim for chronic fatigue syndrome because people often don’t see it as a “disability.”
Work with the Detroit disability lawyers of the Levine Benjamin Law Firm, who know how to build a disability claim for chronic fatigue.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome like exhaustion, constant pain, cognitive decline, and flu-like symptoms can all make it impossible to work, but the challenge is convincing the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Our disability attorneys can help you make it clear that your chronic fatigue syndrome stops you from working and that you deserve the financial relief that Social Security Disability benefits can provide.
Levine Benjamin is the top disability law firm in Michigan measured by how much we win in benefits for our clients. We’ve helped 100,000 people.
But that’s not the only reason to work with us. Our lawyers have developed special knowledge in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia disability claims. We’ve even given public talks about how disability benefits can help people with these conditions.
Work with a Michigan Social Security Disability attorney who will take your claim seriously.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
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When Is Chronic Fatigue Considered for Social Security Disability?
Chronic fatigue syndrome—which doctors may also refer to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or systemic exertion intolerance disease—can be a disability under Social Security rules, but it’s challenging to get Social Security to take these claims seriously.
The tricky part is getting disability claims examiners to believe that your case of chronic fatigue makes it impossible to work. Symptoms can vary from person to person, or even from day to day in each individual. Some people manage it and keep working.
A recent study from the National Academy of Medicine has helped alter this preconception, though. The academy argued this condition shouldn’t be taken lightly. It outlined three major symptoms of chronic fatigue:
- A substantial reduction in your ability to engage in pre-illness levels of occupational, educational, social or personal activities that isn’t helped by rest
- A state of malaise after exertion
- A lack of improvement in your exhaustion level after getting sleep
If you have these symptoms for six months or longer, you could be diagnosed with chronic fatigue, myalgic encephalomyelitis or systemic exertion intolerance.
For a Social Security Disability claim, you should also make it clear if you have other symptoms of this disorder, like joint swelling, headaches, respiratory and cardiovascular abnormalities.
People used to trivialize chronic fatigue syndrome, but this study gave health care professionals a better way of identifying the ailment and gave patients a better chance to qualify for disability benefits.
It still won’t be easy, but our Detroit Social Security Disability lawyers can guide you through the process.
What Information Does Social Security Want to See in a Chronic Fatigue Disability Claim?
For a disability claim, you can’t just report you have severe chronic fatigue. Even sharing your doctor’s diagnosis isn’t enough. A claims examiner will want longitudinal evidence, meaning a history of how you’ve suffered over time.
You can support your disability claim with items like:
- Your doctor’s assessment of your everyday functioning
- A list of prescription medications you’re taking
- Treatment records and evidence that you’ve tried to address these symptoms over time
- Medical records relating to any co-occurring conditions
- Results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)
- The results of lab tests and any other medical evidence that shows that your symptoms aren’t caused by another treatable medical issue
You want to gather as much medical evidence as possible when you seek disability benefits for chronic fatigue.
The more evidence you have, the less likely you’ll be denied disability benefits.
Our Detroit disability lawyers can help you gather medical records from multiple doctors, respond to the SSA when it asks for more information, and source statements from anyone who has witnessed your health struggles firsthand.
Can I Receive Disability Benefits if I Never Worked Much Due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
You can qualify for disability benefits even if you’ve never worked, haven’t worked much or haven’t worked recently.
Sometimes chronic fatigue is a long-standing condition that takes a long time to diagnose. If that’s the case, you may have been out of the workforce for a while.
Social Security runs two different disability benefits programs for people with different work history situations.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is meant for people who have worked and paid into the system. If you have earned enough “work credits,” you can qualify.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program, so your work history doesn’t matter. You just need to meet certain financial requirements.
If you never worked, or only worked limited hours, due to your chronic fatigue syndrome, SSI benefits can offer a lifeline as long as you have limited assets—a total of $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples, not including your primary residence and one car.
Don’t assume that you can’t qualify for disability benefits. If your chronic fatigue keeps you from working a substantial amount, talk to the Levine Benjamin Michigan disability law firm team.
My Chronic Fatigue Disability Claim Was Denied. Can a Detroit Disability Lawyer Help?
Only around 35% to 40% of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio disability claims get approved initially, for all health conditions. Getting denied benefits and having to appeal is a part of this process for most people.
It can be especially difficult to get approved on appeal for an ailment like chronic fatigue syndrome because this health issue is so hard to see and understand.
That’s why, even if you didn’t work with a lawyer on your initial disability application, you should talk to one of our Michigan disability attorneys now that you need to appeal your denied claim.
Your lawyer can help you:
- Fill in gaps in your medical record
- Interpret your denial letter and understand why your claim wasn’t successful
- Request reconsideration, the first stage of appeals, within 60 days
- Stay on top of important deadlines
- Prepare for a disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge
- Make the argument that your chronic fatigue syndrome prevents you from doing ANY job, not just your current one
There’s little financial risk to working with a knowledgeable disability attorney because by Social Security rules, we don’t charge a fee until you win benefits.
It won’t be easy to claim disability benefits for chronic fatigue syndrome, but we’ll be with you at every step of this process.
Talk to Levine Benjamin if you’re in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Toledo, Elkhart, across the Midwest or anywhere in the country.