Research has shown that up to half of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) patients are unemployed due to their illness. Many of them depend on disability insurance, and especially programs provided by the U.S. government's Social Security Administration (SSA), to make ends meet.

There are two disability programs funded by the federal government: Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSDI is an insurance program for workers who become disabled. To qualify, a person must have worked five of the last 10 years prior to becoming disabled (adults under age 31 have less stringent work requirements).

SSI is an insurance program for disabled children or economically disadvantaged adults who have not accumulated enough years of work to qualify for SSDI.

Both programs require that a person has a disability that 1) is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death and 2) precludes him or her from working in any job available in the economy. Some long term  disability insurance policies will compensate you if you can't work in your current occupation, but Social Security has more stringent rules.

In 1999, SSA issued a policy ruling on CFIDS that is a legal mandate for all CFIDS disability claims. This ruling, SSR 99-2p, was written to standardize and speed CFIDS-related disability decision-making nationwide.

Even with the ruling, it is essential to have through documentation of the functional limitations your illness imposes. It is practically impossible to obtain disability benefits without the help of a medical professional who supports your application for disability. Many CFIDS patients have also recommended hiring a Social Security-knowledgeable attorney to help them through the process, although others have successfully obtained benefits without legal counsel.

The CFIDS Association of America has numerous resources available for people interested in Social Security disability and CFIDS:

• Disability Packet - includes Chronicle articles and helpful advice for persons with CFIDS applying for Social Security and long-term disability benefits.
• Disability Workbook for Social Security Applicants - this book, by attorney Doug Smith, guides you through the process of applying for SSDI benefits.
• Disability Evaluation in a Nutshell - a simple guide that teaches doctors how to write CFIDS medical reports that will improve your chances for winning your claim.
• Periodically The CFIDS Chronicle publishes articles on the topics of disability and employment.
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• CFIDS Social Security Policy Ruling (SSR 99-2p)