Social Security Disability Insurance for Post-COVID Syndrome

Social Security Disability Insurance for Post-COVID Syndrome

There have been nearly 34 million confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the United States since the virus began its spread in the early months of 2020. The virus resulted in about 600,000 fatalities, meaning that millions of people were able to make a recovery and return to their lives.

However, researchers believe that 10% to 30% of these survivors may suffer from post-COVID syndrome, or additional symptoms that may last many months. Symptoms include but are not limited to shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of memory, dizziness, muscle weakness, loss of taste or smell, depression, and chest pain.

Because of the newness of the virus and post-COVID symptoms, it makes filing for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) difficult, because in a traditional claim, you are required to show that you are unable to work for 12 months. This makes it tricky for individuals who are unsure about how long their post-COVID symptoms will last.

Proving a Medically Determinable Impairment

The Social Security Administration (SSA) released a message stating that, in order to receive SSDI benefits for post-COVID syndrome as a disability, you must first prove that you suffer from a medically determinable impairment (MDI). An MDI is based on laboratory results and medical evidence, not subjective complaints from individuals.

The three requirements that post-COVID syndrome must meet to qualify as an MDI include:

  • A positive COVID-19 test
  • A diagnostic test consistent with COVID-19 (such as a chest X-ray)
  • Diagnosed symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19

With the recent development of post-COVID syndrome, it is unclear how the SSA will address this issue to stay consistent with the 12-month rule, but they have stated that they will consider more than just the post-COVID symptoms when assessing the disability, such as potential diseases that could cause a new MDI.

Disability Determination

The next step in filing for SSDI for post-COVID symptoms is proving the level of severity. Since there is no listing for post-COVID syndrome due to its recency, the SSA will compare the resulting limitations to those of current listings, and if the qualifications match with a current listed disability, you may be granted SSDI benefits. If the post-COVID symptoms don’t meet the required disability criteria, the SSA will examine the symptoms further to analyze individual impairments when considering whether the job in question can be performed.

Work with an Attorney at Our Firm

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with COVID-19 and still suffer lingering symptoms, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Given the newness of disease and the evolving research on the long-term effects, it may be difficult to navigate SSDI claims alone. Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, has experience in this area of law and recognizes the uniqueness of each individual claim. Contact an attorney today begin exploring your options.

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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law

Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
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