Answer Summary

Members shared diverse experiences with disability applications and work status while managing fibromyalgia, with many describing lengthy... Read more

Members shared diverse experiences with disability applications and work status while managing fibromyalgia, with many describing lengthy approval processes that required attorneys and multiple denials before finally being awarded benefits, sometimes taking years to resolve. Several members emphasized that approval often required multiple qualifying conditions beyond fibromyalgia alone, with some continuing to work reduced hours or part-time while others found themselves unable to work at all due to debilitating fatigue and pain. A recurring theme was the frustration of navigating complex disability systems across different countries, the financial strain of living on limited benefits, and the difficult decision of when to stop working despite wanting to remain employed.