Can I Claim Disability for Fibromyalgia in Michigan and Ohio?
Fibromyalgia can qualify you for Social Security Disability benefits, but meeting the standards of the Social Security Administration (SSA) isn’t easy. You’ll need to show that your symptoms are severe enough to stop you from working any job for at least 12 months.
The main challenge is that fibromyalgia isn’t always thought of as a disabling condition. Some people work through their symptoms and hold jobs, while others suffer from such debilitating pain and fatigue that working is impossible.
The Detroit disability lawyers at Levine Benjamin Law Firm can help you show you’re in the group that can’t work and deserves benefits. We’ll help you understand how Social Security evaluates fibromyalgia disability claims and what you need to do to make your case.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits offer a financial lifeline when you’re sick and unable to work.
But the application process is more complicated than you would hope. It takes a lot of work to get approved for SSDI or SSI, and it’s tough to manage this when fibromyalgia is robbing you of all your energy.
Fibromyalgia changes everything about your life, but your outward appearance stays the same, making it harder to get across what you’re experiencing.
Don’t try to win benefits on your own. Get assistance from a disability attorney who knows this system well.
The Michigan disability lawyers of Levine Benjamin have helped more than 100,000 people get their applications for benefits approved by Social Security.
Our team can guide you through the entire process of qualifying for disability benefits.
And you won’t pay an attorney fee until you win benefits.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
What would you like to do?
When Does Fibromyalgia Qualify for Disability?
You can qualify for disability benefits with fibromyalgia if you meet Social Security’s general disability requirements, but you should also know more about the SSA’s specific approach to these kinds of claims.
Social Security does not list fibromyalgia in its “blue book” of impairments that are eligible for benefits, but there is a ruling that governs these types of claims—called SSR 12-2p.
Fibromyalgia is a complex medical issue that can be difficult for people to understand. The SSR 12-2p ruling gives disability claims examiners a better way of evaluating applicants who need benefits because of this disease.
When you submit your claim, Social Security will want to see:
- You have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by a licensed medical professional.
- This diagnosis doesn’t conflict with any medical records from acceptable sources.
- You can provide evidence of treatment and information about whether your symptoms have improved, gotten worse or remained steady over time.
The SSA also uses two different criteria to determine if your condition is serious enough to qualify for disability benefits. You must meet one of the two:
- 1. The 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia
- 2. The 2010 ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria
If you think you meet these criteria or the standard definition for disability, the Detroit disability lawyers at Levine Benjamin can help you apply for benefits.
How to Build a Convincing Fibromyalgia Disability Claim
Even if you think your fibromyalgia symptoms clearly prevent you from doing any kind of work, you can’t assume that Social Security will see things that way.
You can’t just tell the SSA that your fibromyalgia makes it impossible to hold a job. You need to make a serious effort to build a convincing case.
Let’s take this step by step:
Step #1: Gather your medical evidence.
We’ve already mentioned that Social Security will want to see evidence like a diagnosis from your doctor, treatment notes, and information about any treatments you’ve received.
Other medical evidence that can support your claim include psychological evaluations, a list of prescription medications you’re taking and hospitalization records.
Step #2: Collect any other evidence that could strengthen your disability claim.
Medical records aren’t the only thing that can help you convince the SSA that you qualify for disability benefits. Anything that shows how your symptoms affected you at work or in your daily routine can be valuable.
If you needed accommodations at work, like extra breaks or a reduced workload, due to your chronic pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms, evidence of that should be a part of your disability claim.
Statements from friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers and anyone else who has seen you struggle with your health can also back up your claim.
Step #3: Remember to mention any other health problems you suffer from.
If you suffer from other disorders related to fibromyalgia, make sure that this information is part of your claim. Evidence that you have lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome or any other medical condition can give Social Security a fuller picture of your health and limitations.
Step #4: Talk to a Michigan disability lawyer.
Applying for benefits on your own is challenging, even if you think that you have a ton of evidence or that your fibromyalgia should obviously qualify you for disability.
The Michigan and Ohio disability attorneys from Levine Benjamin can help you build a more convincing claim because we know this system and what the SSA looks for in an application for benefits.
We can also help you figure out if you meet the non-health-related qualifications for SSDI or SSI benefits. SSDI requires work credits and a history of paying into the system, while SSI recipients need to show strict financial limitations.
What Should I Do if Social Security Denies My Fibromyalgia Disability Claim?
Even if you think you’ve done everything right with your fibromyalgia disability claim, Social Security could still deny you benefits.
Only around 35% to 40% of initial disability applications succeed in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Appealing after being denied disability benefits is the path most people must take.
Successfully appealing isn’t easy, especially when you’re suffering from a disease like fibromyalgia that’s harder for others to see and understand.
Our Social Security Disability lawyers can help you effectively tell your story and strengthen your claim on appeal.
Our team can:
- Identify evidence that can strengthen your fibromyalgia disability claim on appeal
- Go over what kinds of questions to expect from the judge at your disability hearing so you can go in prepared
- Represent you in front of the administrative law judge
- Cross-examine expert witnesses from Social Security
- Identify legally appealable errors for the Social Security Appeals Council
- Keep you aware of important deadlines so that you can keep your appeal going
Our team can be there for you from the first steps of this process to advanced steps of appealing a denial.
We’ve helped people in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Toledo, Elkhart and across the states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana win their disability claims, including with cases that require special care like fibromyalgia.
The Levine Benjamin Law Firm is the top disability law firm in Michigan by how much we win in benefits for our clients, shown in Social Security’s own numbers on disability representatives.
Let us help you qualify for SSDI or SSI with fibromyalgia and secure your life so you can focus on your health.
Commonly Asked Questions About Fibromyalgia Disability Claims
Winning disability benefits with fibromyalgia is challenging, so if you’re thinking of applying for SSDI or SSI you probably have some questions.
Our Detroit disability lawyers can provide answers. Schedule a free consultation on your individual situation. Read our responses below to some frequently asked questions about fibromyalgia disability claims.
Can you get Social Security disability for fibromyalgia?
You can get disability benefits for fibromyalgia if you can show that your symptoms are severe enough to stop you from working any job for 12 months or more.
This is a tough standard to meet, so you need to be prepared to back up your claim with plenty of evidence. A disability lawyer from the Levine Benjamin Law Firm can help.
What does “SSR 12-2p” mean to a fibromyalgia disability claim?
This is the label on the SSA ruling that covers fibromyalgia disability cases. It gives Social Security a specific way to evaluate fibromyalgia when deciding whether to award someone benefits.
Knowing about this ruling can help you understand what the SSA looks for so you can build a more convincing claim.
What are the tender point and symptom severity criteria?
These are criteria that doctors use to diagnose fibromyalgia. Under a longer-established method, doctors check 18 “tender points” on the body; pain at 11 or more supports a diagnosis.
A newer method, called your Widespread Pain Index (WPI), counts how many of 19 body areas have been painful in the past week, and a Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) rates problems like fatigue and brain fog from zero to three each, for a total of up to 12 points.
High enough scores on these measures can support a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
How long does it take to get disability benefits for fibromyalgia?
It takes around six to nine months to hear back about your initial application for disability, but this can take longer depending on the backlog of claims and staffing levels at the SSA.
If you get denied disability benefits, going through multiple stages of appeal can add months or even years to your waiting time. That’s why we recommend working with a knowledgeable Michigan disability attorney from the beginning to avoid mistakes and unnecessary extra delays.
For help moving forward with your life, contact Levine Benjamin today.
Last Updated: July 2026
Source: Levine Benjamin Attorney and Partner Gary Bimberg