Covid Disability Benefits Through Social Security
The covid-19 pandemic has sickened millions of Americans and has left previously healthy and able-bodied people unable to work for months. This has left many to ask: Am I eligible for Social Security disability benefits for covid?
The answer, however, is not so simple. If you have recovered from the illness, then you will likely not qualify for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. If, though, you have severe and long-lasting symptoms from covid that have rendered you unable to work for more than a year, then you may be eligible for Social security disability for COVID.
Often referred to as “long covid,” these long-lasting symptoms can include profound fatigue, difficulty breathing due to decreased lung function, heart problems, and a wide range of other ailments that health professionals are continuing to discover. Still, not everyone known as a covid “long-hauler” can qualify for disability insurance.
Because the Social Security Administration (SSA), the agency that oversees disability claims, has not issued formal guidance on long covid, much of this article is our informed speculation about how the agency will proceed. This is based on our analysis and decades of experience with how SSA functioned in similar situations.
How to Gain Social Security Disability for COVID-19?
For background, SSD benefits are typically awarded when a person has a severe condition that is not likely to improve within one year and leaves them unable to work.
That is why there is no “short-term” disability through the U.S. Social Security Administration. In that sense, even if you have become severely ill from covid-19 and took months to recover, you won’t be eligible if you were able to return to work in less than 12 months.
Eligibility for Social Security disability typically is also premised on the severity and duration of your conditions.
What to know when filing a Disability claim for Covid
Like any SSD claim, establishing that your ailment has left you suffering from COVID-19 disability is crucial. That is why we recommend seeing a doctor early and often to record your symptoms is vital to a successful claim.
For example, if you have been experiencing severe migraines or difficulty concentrating months after contracting covid, letting a doctor know the frequency and severity of these symptoms is vital for a successful SSD claim. It will also help argue what and how long the recovery process might entail.
If you are seeking an SSD claim, you must also be in active and continuous treatment. This might be difficult for long-haulers, though.
Since covid and its long-lasting impacts are still not well understood by health experts, no specific treatments exist. Nevertheless, the absolute key for you to win your case is to consistently seek out treatment even if it provides little to no benefit in your recovery.
What Are the Symptoms of “Long Covid”?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines long covid as a range of symptoms lasting weeks or months after being infected with the virus that causes covid-19. The symptoms can also appear weeks after infection.
Some of the common symptoms of long covid include:
- Tiredness or fatigue
- “Brain fog” or difficulty thinking and concentrating
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Joint or muscle pain
- Depression or Anxiety
- Fever
- Loss of taste or smell
Should I Hire A Lawyer for my covid-19 Disability Claim?
If you or a family member suffered from covid-19 and recovered, Social Security disability Benefits likely won’t be an option for you. Benefits, such as workers’ compensation or disability insurance, may be available to you, however.
For those who have long covid, you may qualify for SSD benefits. Given how new these types of claims have become, an experienced disability lawyer can help guide you through the process.
Contact Nationwide Disability Representatives to schedule a free and no-risk consultation if you have experienced lasting symptoms of covid-19 or any disability. Our experienced and caring attorneys are here to assist you during this difficult time and help you collect the fullest benefits you qualify for.