Fibromyalgia in Canada: Surviving an Invisible Disease

Considering the fact that fibromyalgia in Canada is a widespread illness, many wonder why it’s so hard to prove a Canada Pension Plan disability claim for the disease. The fact is that more than 900,000 Canadians suffer from the disorder. That equates to about 3 percent of the nation’s population.

But even if you have received a fibromyalgia diagnosis in Canada, health authorities might be reluctant to pay out any benefits. There are multiple reasons for this state of affairs, the main one being that the legal fibromyalgia disability criteria are complex and strict.

Additionally, when dealing with fibromyalgia and disability qualifications in Canada, most individuals find it highly challenging to convince authorities to pay out disability benefits without hiring legal help.

The key thing for sufferers to remember is this: a fibromyalgia disability simply means you have been diagnosed with the illness, not that the illness is bad enough to prevent you from working.

In order to convince decision-makers of that, you need several sets of written documentation from both employers and medical professionals. Plus, you need to know how to make a convincing case to the Canada Pension Plan authorities, including proof that your condition, whatever it is, is both severe and prolonged.

Here are the most important items to focus on if you plan to file a fibromyalgia disability claim:

Diagnosis

The first step of the process is getting a valid medical diagnosis from a licensed physician. The diagnosis will state that you have taken the appropriate tests for the disorder and followed the doctor’s advice about taking standard medication for your particular symptoms.

Disability Qualifications

Citizens who have paid into the CPP to the point that they can get benefits out of the system are automatically “qualified” for receiving disability payments. But, just being qualified to receive payments is not enough. You also need to document whatever disability you’re attempting to claim benefits for.

If you meet all the disability qualifications for a fibromyalgia diagnosis in Canada, you’ll be able to potentially receive between $600 and $1,300 per month. Fibromyalgia in Canada is a chronic problem for nearly a million people, many of whom have great difficulty making a successful claim for disability benefits.

Disability Benefits for Those with Fibromyalgia

It’s possible to apply for many different kinds of benefits, both short-term and long-term. Some company-based plans exist, or you might choose to apply for traditional unemployment benefits if you are completely unable to work. The big challenge is getting full-scale CPP disability benefits.

If you have enough credits based on how much you paid into the system, you’re past the first hurdle. Next, you’ll need to prove to CPP that you indeed have fibromyalgia. The hardest part is coming up with the right mix of documentation to show that you tried to keep your job by applying for easier tasks, fewer hours or similar arrangements that would let you stay on the job.

If your symptoms are so bad to prevent any type of work, you’ll need to have a doctor’s documentation about all your symptoms and the fact that you took all the medications and treatments for each symptom. It’s not enough to show proof of fibromyalgia disability. You also need to demonstrate that the condition made it impossible for you to work.

Proving Your Case

In order to prove your fibromyalgia and disability qualifications in Canada, it’s wise to hire a lawyer who has expertise in the area. A “doctor’s note” is not enough. You and your legal representative will need to work together to show that you meet all the fibromyalgia disability criteria for being unable to work.