Lisa Wagman, ADR, CP, NJCP, became a fully Accredited Disability Representative in January of 2012. This was attained only after having met the stringent criteria to participate in the Social Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010 (PRA). Through this process, she became a fully Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) through the National Association of Disability Representatives.

A disability representative must first meet the Social Security Administration's strictest requirements as they pertain to level of skill, education and experience in order to become eligible to qualify under PRA law. A disability representative must then pass a complex written examination implemented by the Social Security Administration to test their knowledge of all aspects of the disability and SSI programs.

As an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR), I will be participating in annual continuing education and will strive to maintain my knowledge and high level of expertise in my field. This will enable me to stay abreast of the constant changes in the law, regulations and rulings, so that I may continue to provide the highest possible quality representation to individuals filing for disability.

To learn more about the ADR program, please peruse the website by clicking Accredited Disability Representative.

Click here to learn more about the National Association of Disability Representatives, and the Social Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional Representative Act of 2010 (PRA).

How is Fibromyalgia Evaluated by Social Security?

It was not long ago that Social Security did not recognize Fibromyalgia as being a severely debilitating disease.  In fact, if Fibromyalgia was the only alleged medical condition that prevented a person from being able to work, generally adjudicators and Administrative Law Judges would deny the claim.

On July 25, 2012, Social Security issued a Ruling, SSR 12-2p, which changes the manner in which Social Security will consider the severity of Fibromyalgia.  As with any alleged medical condition, the medical evidence must establish the existence of a Medically Determinable Impairment (MDI) which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged and they must be documented by an acceptable medical source. 

In order to prove the severity of Fibromyalgia, the medical evidence must establish as follows:

1.  There is a documented history of widespread pain;

2.  There are repeated manifestations of six or more Fibromyalgia symptoms, signs or co-occuring conditions, especially manifested by fatigue, cognitive or memory problems, waking unrefreshed, depression, anxiety disorder or irritable bowel syndrome;

3.  Evidence that other disorders that could cause these repeated manifestations of symptoms, signs or co-occurring conditions were excluded.

For more information concerning the procedure followed by Social Security when considering the severity of Fibromyalgia, click on the link below.

The Federal Register of the United States SSR 12-2p