Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Social Security Disability for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Detroit
If you’re suffering from what’s commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)—or a related condition like fibromyalgia—the symptoms of crushing fatigue, flu-like symptoms, pain and cognitive decline can be debilitating.
Working might be impossible. In that case, monthly checks from Social Security disability can be a lifesaver.
The problem is, when filing a Social Security disability claim, these symptoms are hard to prove. They can be difficult for other people to observe and document.
If your claim goes to the level of a hearing with a Social Security administrative law judge, the judge might say the medical evidence doesn’t indicate your disease. They might say your problems are “all in your head.”
An experienced Social Security disability attorney knows how to counter that kind of statement.
At Levine Benjamin Law Firm, we take a particular interest in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Our attorneys even give public talks about how disability benefits can help people with these conditions.
What would you like to do?
Proving Chronic Fatigue as a Disability
In recent years, the thinking on CFS has changed.
A report from an expert committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) argued that chronic fatigue syndrome shouldn’t be stigmatized or trivialized.
The report outlined three major symptoms:
- A substantial reduction in the ability to engage in pre-illness levels of occupational, education, social or personal activities. This condition must persist for more than six months. It’s accompanied by a profound, newly developed fatigue. The fatigue is not the result of excessive exertion. And rest doesn’t help.
- A marked state of malaise after exertion.
- Unrefreshing sleep.
The report suggested this condition, which is sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis, should now be called “systemic exertional intolerance disease.”
The idea of the name change is to circumvent people’s pre-conceived notions that chronic fatigue syndrome isn’t serious.
The most important part of winning your disability case with chronic fatigue is to see a doctor, get treatment and get your symptoms documented.
Get Help with Your Chronic Fatigue Disability Case
A disability lawyer can use the Institute of Medicine report, which was supported by the Social Security Administration, to rebut a judge’s assertion that CFS is not a “real” disease.
At Levine Benjamin Law Firm, we welcome this new name and diagnostic criteria for a disease that we have found to be quite real and limiting for a number of our clients.
If you have CFS, this report can help in winning your disability claim. You’ll also need records from your medical treatment showing that your condition is severe enough to prevent you from working.
Levine Benjamin lawyers can gather all your evidence and present it in a way that makes sense to Social Security.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.