You may not have heard the expression yet, but COVID Long Haulers—the name given to those patients whose COVID symptoms linger for months—is a new buzz term in the medical community.
We’re all familiar with the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The good news is that the virus is on the decline. But for some patients, COVID just won’t go away.
Who are these Long-Haulers, and if you’re one of them, do you qualify for long-term disability benefits?
COVID Long Haulers
For most people, mild or moderate COVID-19 can last about a week or two. The symptoms ease up, and patients go back to leading their normal lives.
But for some, the symptoms, which can be debilitating, linger even though there is no more live coronavirus running through their bodies. If tested, they’ll come up negative.
The National Institutes of Health refer to long-term COVID-19 symptoms as PASC (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2). More common terms are post-COVID syndrome, long COVID or long-term COVID. People living with post-COVID syndrome are sometimes known as “long haulers.”
The most common symptoms of long-term COVID-19 can include:
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- cough
- joint pain
- chest pain
- cognitive problems
- difficulty concentrating
- depression
- muscle pain
- headache
- rapid heartbeat
- intermittent fever
- distorted sense of smell or taste
Severe cases of COVID-19 can leave even more debilitating issues, such as problems with the heart or lungs and kidney damage.
How Long Will Symptoms Last?
Symptoms are treated individually and may include breathing exercises, physical therapy, medications, and any other treatments that can improve your health.
Because so little is known about the long-term effects of COVID-19, there is no hard and fast rule about when symptoms will go away, so be prepared for a gradual recovery that can take months.
Can I Qualify For Disability Benefits If I have COVID-19 Long Haul?
The answer is yes and no. Each case is different.
An individualized assessment is needed to determine whether a person’s long COVID condition or any of its symptoms substantially limits a major life activity.
Because long COVID is now considered a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act, depending on where you work, you should be able to qualify for benefits such as short-term disability, FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), and specialized workplace accommodations.
If you can prove that your symptoms are severe enough that you are unable to work and your illness is expected to last at least one year, you might also qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or long-term disability. It is critical that you track your doctor’s visits, document your symptoms, and keep a timeline of your diagnosis.
Policies surrounding long COVID disability benefits are relatively new. It is important that you advocate for yourself with your company and government agencies to get the benefits you’ll need to take you through your recovery. The experienced attorneys at Tucker Disability Law can help you. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. Use the blue contact section NOW to call us, live chat with us, or message us using our confidential contact form.
At Tucker Disability Law we don’t settle for less. Neither should you.
