Effective Dates: 03/24/2017 - Present Previous | Next

TN 22 (05-25)

DI 24515.076 Evaluation of Fibromyalgia (FM) SSR 12-2p

CITATIONS:

SSR 12-2p

[NOTE 1: On January 18, 2017, SSA published final rules in the Federal Register titled “Revisions to Rules Regarding the Evaluation of Medical Evidence” (82 FR 5844) that revised how we consider medical evidence in disability claims and continuing disability reviews under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. These rules expanded the list of medical sources we recognize as acceptable medical sources (AMS). For claims filed on or after March 27, 2017, the AMS list also includes licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) (for impairments within the licensed scope of practice), licensed physician assistants (PA) (for impairments within the licensed scope of practice), and licensed audiologists (for impairments of hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance disorders within the their licensed scope of practice only). Therefore, these medical sources can provide objective medical evidence (medical signs, laboratory findings, or both) to help establish a person has a medically determinable impairment. Accordingly, we plan to revise relevant Social Security Rulings and the POMS to conform to these final rules.]

[NOTE 2: See C. References related to evaluating FM claims. On April 28, 2025, we archived DI 24515.062 Your Residential Functional Capacity and DI 24515.063 Exertional and Nonexertional Limitations. These archived POMS sections were essentially verbatim regulatory text (20 CFR 404.1545, 416.945 and 404.1569a, 416.969a, respectively) that were added to POMS in 1999 when we did not have electronic access to the regulations. This is no longer the case, and there is no longer a reason to keep these regulatory sections in the POMS.]

A. Background of the publication of SSR 12-2p

SSA published SSR 12-2p, “Evaluation of Fibromyalgia” on July 25, 2012. This Social Security Ruling (SSR), which took effect upon publication, explains our policies for developing evidence to establish that a person has a medically determinable impairment (MDI) of fibromyalgia (FM). SSR 12-2p also explains how we evaluate FM in disability claims and continuing disability reviews under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

B. Sections of SSR 12-2p

A short section explains the purpose of the SSR.

An introduction defines the disorder.

Policy interpretation is in question-and-answer format and explains the evidence we need to establish an MDI of FM. The questions and answers also explain how we evaluate FM when we determine whether a person is disabled. The questions answered in the SSR are:

  1. I.  

    What general criteria can establish that a person has an MDI of FM?

  2. II.  

    What specific criteria can establish that a person has an MDI of FM?

  3. III.  

    What documentation do we need?

  4. IV.  

    How do we evaluate a person's statements about his or her symptoms and functional limitations?

  5. V.  

    How do we find a person disabled based on an MDI of FM?

  6. VI.  

    How do we consider FM in the sequential evaluation process?

SSR 12-2p also includes cross-references to additional rulings and Program Operating Manual System instructions.

C. References related to evaluating FM claims

  • •

    DI 22505.001 Medical and Nonmedical Evidence

  • •

    DI 22505.003 Evidence from an Acceptable Medical Source (AMS)

  • •

    DI 24510.057 Sustainability and the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment

  • •

    DI 24515.012 Evaluating Lay Evidence

  • •

    DI 24515.062 Your Residual Functional Capacity

  • •

    DI 24515.063 Exertional and Nonexertional Limitations

  • •

    DI 24515.075 Evaluating Claims Involving Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

  • •

    DI 24555.001 Evaluating Cases Involving Interstitial Cystitis SSR 15-1p

  • •

    DI 25005.001 Determination of Capacity for Past Relevant Work (PRW) Basics of Step 4 of the Sequential Evaluation Process

  • •

    DI 25010.001 Medical-Vocational Profiles

  • •

    DI 25025.001 The Medical-Vocational Guidelines

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0424515076
DI 24515.076 - Evaluation of Fibromyalgia (FM) SSR 12-2p - 03/24/2017
Batch run: 06/26/2025
Rev:03/24/2017