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Does Long Haul Covid Qualify for Disability?

by | Aug 19, 2021 | SSD - Social Security Disability Benefits For Illnesses |

More than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, one phenomenon that continues to be overlooked by many people is so-called “long haul Covid.”

There’s no specific definition for what exactly constitutes long haul Covid, and it’s unclear even how many people experience it.

Generally, long haulers are individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 at one point. While most people who contract Covid-19 recover in a few weeks, long haulers continue to experience various symptoms for months afterward. These symptoms can vary from fatigue and shortness of breath to inflammation of the heart muscles and acute injury.

Unfortunately, there is still a lot that we don’t know about Covid-19, and in particular, we’re especially in the dark about Covid long haulers.

While the symptoms of long haul Covid by themselves could keep long haulers from working, Social Security regulations require that a medically severe impairment last, or be expected to last, 12 consecutive months in order to qualify for disability benefits.

At this point, no one knows if long haulers will experience for years to come, though at this point in the pandemic, some long haulers have dealt with Covid symptoms for more than a year.

Long haulers did get something of a boost earlier this summer when at a press conference celebrating the American with Disabilities Act, he said that in some cases long haul Covid can rise to the level of disability.

Unfortunately, Social Security has so far issued no further guidance about how to evaluate long haul Covid cases, so while long haulers who are unable to work certainly should apply for disability benefits, actually getting approved may be another long roa

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