Below we will examine the disabling symptoms commonly reported by long haulers, as well as how to determine whether you may be eligible for long term disability benefits if you are a COVID-19 long hauler.
Anyone with COVID-19 could ultimately become a disabled long hauler. Evidence shows the type of COVID-19 patient who becomes a long hauler does not follow a simple pattern. Some long haulers had to be hospitalized before recovery from the life-threatening acute illness. Others had mild symptoms, or were completely asymptomatic, only to have serious symptoms emerge after they were no longer contagious. The demographics of COVID-19 long haulers are also varied. Long haulers consist of people of all ages, and includes both those who are otherwise healthy and also those with pre-existing conditions.
The long-term recurring symptoms of COVID-19 can be debilitating. Many long haulers become unable to work due to their condition. Even those who experience improvement may later report a “relapse” – showing that the nature of COVID-19’s long-term effects are serious and unpredictable.
The limited research into the long-term health impact of COVID-19 means little is understood of the exact cause of long haulers’ conditions. However, a wide range of symptoms have been reported by COVID-19 long haulers. These include both physical and cognitive symptoms. Many may be be disabling.
Common physical symptoms reported by COVID-19 long haulers include:
Any of these symptoms, if severe enough, can cause long term disability. For example, extreme fatigue—one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 long haulers—can make keeping up with the demands of your occupation unmanageable. You may become unable to work a regular schedule without excessive breaks. Shortness of breath, dizziness, and joint pain may make even a sedentary career – one spent behind a desk – too physically demanding.
These cognitive issues are not unusual among COVID-19 long haulers. Body Politic, a long-term COVID-19 survivor group, conducted a survey of its nearly 4,000 members that found 85% reported cognitive dysfunction.
Indeed, brain fog is one of the most reported symptoms by COVID-19 long haulers. Often also experienced by sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, “brain fog” is a kind of cognitive dysfunction resulting in mental fatigue. COVID-19 long haulers with brain fog find that their ability to concentrate and short-term memory have severely deteriorated due to the long-term effects of the virus. In these cases, things such as remembering names and simple directions become difficult. Some struggle to focus on tasks – even those requiring little time. Naturally, those who suffer from these types of cognitive symptoms often find themselves unable to continue working.
Beyond the lingering symptoms experienced by COVID-19 long haulers, the CDC reports that many experience more serious long-term complications. These include:
Many COVID-19 long haulers are unable to work because of their condition. The same Body Politic member survey cited above found that nearly 75% of long haulers had difficulty continuing in their jobs due to their symptoms.
Given the “newness” of COVID-19, it remains undetermined how long these long-term symptoms may last. If you are a COVID-19 long hauler, you’re likely facing a great deal of uncertainty: How long will it take to improve? What if your condition is permanent or progressive? What do you do if you can no longer work? Can COVID-19 qualify you for long term disability benefits?
Whether you qualify for long term disability insurance benefits will depend on several factors:
If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you may have a viable claim for long term disability insurance benefits.
Keep in mind that the threshold for “disability” is typically easier to meet under long-term disability policies as compared to the standard set by the Social Security Administration. Take a look at your long term disability policy’s definition of disability. At the outset of a long term disability claim, most policies only require that you demonstrate that you are unable to work in your “own occupation” – meaning that if your job demands a high level of executive function, mild cognitive impairment alone may render you disabled under the terms of the policy.
Some policies only require that you are unable to work in your “own occupation” for the life of the claim. Other policies require that after a period of time – usually 24 months – you show that you are disabled from “any occupation”—meaning any occupation reasonably suited for your education, experience, and age. Depending on the severity of your COVID-19 long hauler symptoms, you may still qualify for benefits under an “any occupation” definition.
The ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic have permeated every aspect of our lives—especially for COVID-19 long haulers. There are still many unknowns regarding the long-term health effects of COVID-19, and emerging evidence shows that even once the acute illness phase passes, complications and symptoms can still occur.
If you are looking to file a long term disability claim due to COVID-19 and its long-term effects, a disability attorney can help. Filing a claim can be a daunting and complicated process. Consulting with an experienced long term disability attorney is advised. An experienced attorney can design a personalized strategy to win your claim and ensure you are set up for success.
If you are suffering from long-term COVID-19 complications, or if you have already been denied disability benefits for COVID-19, our New York long term disability lawyers can help. Call Riemer Hess LLC at (212) 297-0700 for a consultation on your disability case.