I talked recently with two Social Security disability claimants with chronic fatigue syndrome. One claimant had Lyme disease, the other was a cancer survivor. Both are disabled due to chronic fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome does not fit neatly into the Social Security disability evaluation process. Nevertheless, chronic fatigue can certainly provide the basis for a successful disability claim, and Social Security Ruling 99-2p discusses the SSA's policy regarding chronic fatigue syndrome.

If you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, there are some things you can do to improve your Social Secuirty disability claim. First, keep a journal, so that you have a record of your conditon day to day, week to week, month to month. Second, tell your doctor how your fatigue is affecting your daily life. Be specific.

Because chronic fatigue is so inherently subjective, the support of your doctor is very important in these cases.