Does the Social Security Administration have a Listing for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

To determine whether or not you are disabled, the Social Security Administration uses a five step sequential evaluation process. To determine whether you are disabled at step three, the Social Security Administration usually considers whether your impairment is severe enough to meet or equal a listing.

The Social Security Administration has developed the listing of impairments for most common impairments but, unfortunately, the Social Security Administration has no listing for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As a result, it cannot be found in the list of conditions at step three of the five step sequential evaluation. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t get the Social Security Disability benefits that you deserve as a result of chronic fatigue, most Social Security Disability applicants don’t meet a listing even if there is a listing for their medical condition.

More often than not, Social Security Disability benefits are awarded after a consideration of step four and step five of the five step sequential evaluation. At step four you must establish that your residual functional capacity prohibits you from doing the lightest work that you have held in the last fifteen years and once you meet step four, the burden of proof shifts to the Social Security Administration at step five to show that there is a job in the mythical national economy that you might be able to do based on your age, education, transferable sills and your level of residual functional capacity.

Chronic fatigue and disability. Chronic fatigue is an auto-immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) which is a complex disorder that has many signs and symptoms. The most common symptom is extreme fatigue but there are many other symptoms that would reduce your residual functional capacity. These include:

– Self reported impairment in short term memory or concentration severe enough to cause substantial reduction in previous of levels of occupational, educational, social or personal activities.
– Muscle pain.
– Multiple joint pain without joint swelling or redness.
– Headaches
– Unrefreshing sleep
– Malaise

The chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms have to present for at least six months before chronic fatigue can be diagnosed.

Any one of those symptoms, and a combination, can reduce your ability to stand, sit, maintain pace, concentration or complete simple tasks. It’s crucial that your medical records document your symptoms so that you can establish that your residual functional capacity prohibits you from doing the lightest job that you have held in the last fifteen years and that you are unable to perform any other job in the mythical national economy.

Finding The Right Chronic Fatigue Social Security Disability Lawyer For Your

The Social Security Administration doesn’t always make it easy for those with chronic fatigue to get the Social Security Disability benefits that they deserve, that’s why having an experienced chronic fatigue Social Security Disability attorney can make all the difference in getting your benefits. Tampa Bay chronic fatigue Social Security Disability attorney Nancy Cavey knows how crucial it is to establish your symptoms and functionality in your medical records and in your residual functional capacity form she will have your physician complete.

If your physician has told you are unable to work as a result of chronic fatigue or your initial application for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, contact chronic fatigue syndrome attorney Nancy Cavey today who can help you get the Social Security Disability benefits deserve no matter where you live in the Tampa Bay area.