The American Medical Association confirmed that symptoms of long Covid can be “disabling,” disrupting daily tasks and productivity levels. Brookings reported in Aug. 2021 that an estimated 1.6 million people were out of work because of it, too. But with over 200 reported possible symptoms, many of which are “invisible,” long Covid patients who are unable to work may have a hard time proving they qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). However, there are two big ways you can make the application process smoother:
Documentation Is Critical
Make sure your doctor tracks all your symptoms, including subjective ones like fatigue and brain fog. Per CNBC, approved applications mentioning long Covid tend to be severe cases, suggesting that more documentation of symptoms does strengthen an application.
Hire a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Disability lawyers agree to get paid only if your case is approved, according to AARP. And if successful, the fee in most cases usually comes out of SSDI “back pay,” with a federal max payout cap of 25% or $7,200, whichever is less.
Covid or no Covid, applying for SSDI can be frustrating. On average, 67% of SSDI applications are denied. On top of that, most approved applicants have to wait at least five months to get their first round of benefits…and there’s a massive backlog.