RECENT UPDATES IN DISABILITY REGULATIONS
Social Security has made some important updates and revisions to its disability rules. We will discuss a couple of these changes here. SSR 12-2(p) was issued in 2013. This ruling clarifies how Social Security should consider Drug or Alcohol Abuse (DAA) in deciding disability claims. In effect, it continues the policy followed for the last sixteen years but adds a great deal of clarification. The summary of SSR 12(2)(p) is that a disability claim cannot be denied due to DAA unless the abuse is material to the impairment(s) of the claimant. SSR 12-2(p) makes it clear the Fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment. In short, if it is severe enough and well documented, Fibromyalgia may qualify an individual for disability benefits. In the past, many judges refused to acknowledge Fibromyalgia as "a real disease." With this ruling in place, the disease must now be considered on the same basis as other impairments when it is medical...