Can People With “Long Covid” Receive Social Security Disability?

 Posted on March 15, 2022 in Social Security Disability

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great deal of difficulty for nearly everyone in the United States. Around 79 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the virus, and around 950,000 have died. Unfortunately, many people who have recovered from infections are continuing to experience serious symptoms that affect their daily lives. These issues are common enough that they have become known as “long Covid,” and those who suffer from serious symptoms often struggle to maintain employment and complete other daily tasks. While conditions that are serious enough to prevent a person from working may qualify them for disability benefits from Social Security, many have had trouble receiving these benefits.

Problems With Social Security Disability Claims for Covid Long Haulers

Covid infections can have a number of long-term effects. Those who became seriously ill, were placed on ventilators, and experienced issues such as organ failure or bleeding in the brain have often been able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, others who experienced less severe symptoms following an infection have had trouble demonstrating that they meet the requirements for total disability.

Symptoms of long Covid often include extreme fatigue in which a person becomes exhausted even after performing minor physical activities. Many have also experienced issues such as shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, chest pain, and pain in the muscles and joints. In many cases, long Covid also involves “brain fog” in which people struggle to think clearly, concentrate, and remember information. 

Unfortunately, even though these symptoms may be evident, they do not always show up in standard medical tests. Certain types of specialized tests may indicate that patients suffer from dysautonomia, a disorder that affects the central nervous system, but these tests currently have waiting times of multiple months. This has placed many people in the difficult position of being unable to work while also being unable to demonstrate that they have symptoms that prevent them from working.

Another issue patients have experienced is the requirement that a condition last for at least 12 months (or be expected to last that long) before a person can qualify for Social Security disability. Those who recovered from a Covid infection less than one year ago may struggle to show that long Covid symptoms will most likely continue to affect them for at least a year.

Contact Our Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer for Covid-Related Conditions

Covid patients who are experiencing continuing symptoms will want to fully document how these issues have affected their lives, including how symptoms have limited their ability to work and perform daily tasks at home. When applying for Social Security disability benefits in these cases, it is important to work with an attorney who can help an applicant provide the right evidence and respond to questions asked by Social Security personnel. Attorney Jonathan Pearson can assist with these cases, and he can also help applicants determine their options for pursuing an appeal following the denial of disability benefits. To get legal help with your case, contact our Chicago Social Security disability claim attorney at 312-999-0999 and set up a complimentary consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/03/08/long-covid-disability-benefits/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/14/what-covid-19-long-haulers-should-know-about-social-security-disability.html

https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html