I became ill in 2008 and filed in 2009. I was approved in 6 months on the first try. That is not the norm. Most people are denied on the first try. The average waiting time is about 2 years and,sometimes more. If you work while waiting for approval, you will probably be denied.

Although Fibromyalgia is now a recognized illness by the social security administration, it is still pretty hard to be approved for it. You are better off to use depression, and any other significant health issue and then Fibromyalgia as a reason for being unable to work. Your doctor's must absolutely support this decision. You need to ask them if they will support your application.

You also need enough work credits to apply for SSDI. You can go to the Social Security Administration website and set up an account. That will allow you to see if you have enough credits and your approximate monthly income on SSDI.

I simply could not function in my job or my life. I've had retool everything. Not working means that I can get the,rest that I need and look after myself. It was a hard decision but I'm better off without the additional stress of trying to work everyday.

I used a company called Allsup to file. They do all of the paperwork for you. They can be found online. They were very organised and did an excellent job. I felt that this was a better option than a disability lawyer. Some of the firm's that advertise as disability experts are sweat shops and don't do a very good job. Allsup charges the same amount as an attorney which is 25% of your back pay. That is all they can legally collect. Doing it yourself is really hard. If you miss a deadline, you have to start over from the beginning.

You have a lot to think about. I hope that my comments are helpful to you.

I was struck with Fibro when I was 26 and by the time I was in my early 40's it became clear that I wasn't going to be able to work. I would work a full day and then someone had to help me to my car. I would lay there for an hour sometimes more in so much pain I couldn't drive myself home. I was stubborn, still am. If you feel that your quality of life is waning and that you are in pain more than not it is time to start asking yourself is it worth working. I would say though that Fibro as a secondary diagnosis to something like Lupus or Rheumatoid arthritis is easier to get through disability courts than Fibro by itself. I also have found having an attorney who specializes in disability helps make the process happen faster and with much better results. I hope this helps.

I didn't have fibro until some nasty work events (it's a whole long story I won't bore you with) but was diagnosed in 2013 and having fought and failed to regain my health I'm now giving up on the whole idea of work. I'm just too exhausted. Even with lots of knowledge of mind-body 'stuff' I'm struggling. Yes I can do little bits but can't commit to squat so how could I commit to regular work?!

I'm in the UK so the system is completely different, but I finally decided to apply for early retirement last year and it's a flippin' nightmare. My doctors are totally supportive but it's the 'process' of retirement...what I call 'the game' of the paperwork and presenting my case in a way that the assessors understand...that is baffling and gruelling and draining. I like the idea of using a company to help, even if it costs a little. That sounds like an excellent way to go. Wish I could find something similar in the UK.

Thanks everyone! The Allsup looks like a great option--unfortunately, you can't be working to apply for Social Security Disability, per their feedback. And I checked again at work and I have to apply for SSD to be considered for disability retirement there. Circular reasoning... I think I will need to either stop working, use up my vacation time, cash in IRA money, etc. Or I try to hang in there 15 more months until I qualify for Social Security at 62. It's so tough. I'm at home today because I felt like I hit a wall...

I struggled with fibro since 1993, as a dental hygienist-the sore muscles and nerve pain were the parts of my body that I needed to make a living daily. After a few accidents and injuries since 2010, I contemplated this decision, but after a fall due to a blood pressure problem, and 9 broken ribs-I called a lawyer. I filed only a few weeks after I quit my job of 35 years-It only took 5 months for the SSDI to go through-but I have OA, Osteoporosis, and anxiety too, and BP problems. My age-late 50's helps-You must have many years of work, and be unable to do your main occupation to qualify. Good luck to you. Fibro is a tough road to go down. Fibrohyg

I havent worked since 20, I tried back then, without a lawyer and got turned down. Then i ended up getting married and we had enough money. When my husband died, i fought for SSI, took me 3 years nad had to go before a judge. I have way more than fibro going on, this judge had NEVER approved SSI for any of my lawyers clients but he did on the spot for me, i didnt have to wait for approval letter. He had a specilist there who normally will come up with off the wall jobs people can do, he looks at the judge and says this young lady can not function at any job. I won. This was 18 months ago. i won thru the state to get medicaid and they declacred me disabled 2 years before federal. I get widows benefits because my late husband was a 21 year army veteran and it pays more than SSI but i got the SSI to protect my medicaid and to get medicare which i will get in december.

I applied for SSD this year and was turned down. I haven't worked in 2 years. While they agreed that I can't work my old job anymore, which was very physically demanding, they say I can do a less demanding job. They also used my having a college degree against me, saying it will aid in my being able to find another job. That really annoyed me, as if I'm getting punished for having gone to college. Sigh. Very depressing, being 47 years old, working my whole life, paying taxes, etc, and being turned down in my time of need.

I hear you MustangMomma - I got turned down because my sleep improved after I came off drugs and because I responded well to a pain management course 11 years ago! Oh and it's all in my head, apparently. We deserve more. You deserve more. Are you appealing?

I couldn't continue working as a nurse, just couldn't, tried part-time, went through Voc Rehab, too. First step was getting on my state's disability (in my case, California), which you stay on for 6 months or so. Then apply for SSDI. I got it on a first try also. Get some advice from Vocational Rehab or someone at social security and see if you need to get state disability first (it's not much money, akin to the unemployment amount). Good luck to you!

Right now I'm working as a caregiver for my mom who has MS, but I'm unable to do a lot for her, and she ends up trying to take care of me. I want to apply for ssd after I move back to VA in about a year.

Anyway, my mom fought for years to get disability. She hadn't worked in years, was declining fast, and they STILL denied her. She went through Allsup I believe, and my dad called our state senator John McCain and he ended up helping push her disability through. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to get disability with fibromyalgia. If you do attempt it I suggest calling your state senators, representives, anyone who will listen, and seeing if they can help.
Best wishes!

I've had SSDI for 10 yrs now.
I was Dx'd with fibro in 2005 right after being discharged from the military, but I know I was struggling with the symptoms during my service and didn't know what was wrong with me (besides my back injury). I tried working as a contractor for the military bases when I got out but after a year of struggling, they did not renew my contract. I took that as a sign that my calling in sick too many times and taking off work to see a doctor meant maybe I should take some time to take care of ME.
Besides, there were days I had trouble getting out of bed to make it to the bathroom let alone feed myself. A few months after falling out of work, I applied and was approved a year later. I thought it would be temporary and I'd get back to work a year or 2 later, but back then I didn't know much about fibro... that it was a life long struggle to manage and that it also changes and you also have to make adjustments with those changes. So here I am 10 yrs later still on SSDI.

Btw, it helps if you have other conditions when applying. For example, my fibro fog was so bad I failed a memory test which helped get approval for SSDI. I've also been Dx'd with PTSD.

i've been on disability for over 10 yrs and i had double dx too. the dr who dx fibromyalgia said it was a real bad case of it and the other diagnosis was back injuries w/degenerative disc disease. i was told that without the double dx i would not have been approved. i got turned down the first time too but approved by the judge.

encouraging hugs from me

@Pumkin31, I've been asking around, and it seems my next step will be to hire a lawyer to help me file again. Will cost me a chunk of my pay if approved, but will be worth it in the long run.

Thanks for all the responses--I really appreciate hearing about your own situations and how you are dealing with disability. I did check through my work and I have to apply for Social Security Disability in order to be considered for Disability Retirement. I work for the federal government and am only 14 months from being able to retire at 62. But, I would actually get more Soc Security if I get SSD than if I retire at 62.

I also have arthritis of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint plus just diagnosed with chonedrocalcinosis in my wrists and hands. Like MustangMomma, I'm concerned they will use my education against me as well. My job is not physically demanding but extremely stressful and wears me out to the point that I can't do anything but drag myself into work. I miss several days per month and feel like I'm operating at about 50% my normal job ability.

Does anyone know what happens if you apply for SSD online while you are working? Does it just not allow you to fill out the application? I'm asking because I'm wondering if I apply while working and then go to my HR, maybe they would consider me apply for Disability Retirement?