Key takeaways:
If you suspect that you have long COVID, contact your employer’s human resources department to ask about Family and Medical Leave Act benefits as well as short-term and long-term disability.
Record your physical and mental symptoms. Don’t dismiss them as being “in your head.”
If your symptoms persist, immediately begin the process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Long COVID refers to enduring symptoms beyond an initial COVID-19 infection. Chronic symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, and even chest pain.
Not everyone known as a COVID “long-hauler” will qualify for disability insurance. But it’s important to document your symptoms and make your best case, because long COVID could prevent you from working.
Here, we break down what you should know about disability insurance and benefits for long COVID.
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What is long COVID?
Long COVID, or “long-haul COVID,” is often called the pandemic after the pandemic. The term describes having symptoms after a COVID infection that last at least 4 weeks. But symptoms and health complications from long COVID may endure for months or even years.
As the pandemic progressed and more people emerged with long-lasting illness, long COVID came to be defined by more than 200 symptoms. Over time, researchers have tried to narrow these down to a more definitive list.
According to a study published in May 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the 12 most common symptoms people with long COVID have 6 months after getting COVID are:
Fatigue
Post-exertional malaise (symptoms that get worse after a physical or mental effort)
Brain fog
Dizziness
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Heart palpitations
Changes in sexual desire or capacity
Loss of taste or smell
Thirst
Chronic cough
Chest pain
Abnormal movements, including tremors, slowed or rigid movements, or sudden, uncontrollable, and jerky movements
CDC estimates indicate that about 6% of U.S. adults are living with long COVID as of mid-June 2023.
About 16% of U.S. adults report that they have experienced long COVID, according to the latest figures from an ongoing study by the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Is long COVID a disability?
Yes, long COVID can be considered a disability. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice identified long COVID as a potential disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act if your symptoms substantially limit your ability to do one or more life activities. Examples of potential life activities affected include:
Walking
Dressing
Speaking
Eating
Sleeping
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recognizes this definition and provides workplace protections for those with long COVID.
If your long COVID symptoms persist and are affecting your ability to work, document what is happening and start the process of applying for assistance right away, Lynn Blewett, professor of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, told GoodRx.
If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to work because of long COVID, contact an Affordable Care Act insurance navigator to maintain your healthcare coverage, she said.
Ask your human resources department about options like short-term disability and long-term disability as well as Family and Medical Leave Act benefits. You should also contact the Social Security Administration to start applying for assistance such as Social Security Disability Insurance, Blewett said. If your long COVID is a likely result of a COVID-19 infection on the job, ask about workers’ compensation.
Do short-term disability and long-term disability cover people with long COVID?
If long COVID is preventing you from working, and your recovery window is unclear, you may have access to short-term disability (STD) or long-term disability (LTD) benefits through your job. Many employers offer these plans, and most workers do not have to contribute to them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 40% of civilian workers had access to STD in 2020, and 35% were covered by LTD.
STD insurance may give you enough time to recuperate while preserving your job and health insurance, Blewett said. STD provides you with a portion of your paycheck and can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Payments typically begin right away. Benefits are typically 60% to 75% of your base pay.
LTD insurance plans can provide pay for a few years, or until the disability ends. All plans have waiting periods (also known as elimination periods) before payouts begin. Most waiting periods are 3 to 6 months. LTD typically pays about 60% of gross earnings, but the percentage can be more or less.
It’s important to note that LTD doesn’t start automatically following STD. You have to apply separately for LTD, even if it’s offered by the same company. In fact, you should apply before your STD runs out.
Disability plans also don’t provide job protections. But both STD and LTD can provide income more quickly than SSDI.
Does SSDI cover people with long COVID?
Yes. You’re eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you can’t work and your illness, such as long COVID, is expected to last for at least one year.
“Make sure that you have documentation from your doctor in terms of your conditions and your physical and mental impairment. To receive disability payments, it has to be medically determined that that impairment is going to last at least 12 months,” Blewett said.
SSDI is based on how long you have worked and your earnings history. If you are eligible for SSDI and long-term disability, your LTD payments will be reduced by the amount of SSDI you get.
The application process for SSDI can take 3 to 6 months, so it’s important to start as soon as you can. That is, in part, because there is a 5-month waiting period from the date Social Security determines that your disability began before you can start receiving benefits. Also, after 2 years on SSDI, you can receive Medicare, regardless of age.
How to apply for SSDI if you have long COVID
There are three ways to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. You can:
Complete an application online.
Call 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office.
Visit your local Social Security office after calling and making an appointment.
Does workers’ compensation cover people with long COVID?
Potentially. Workers’ compensation laws provide compensation for “occupational diseases” directly related to the job. Previously, workers’ compensation was associated with circumstances like firefighters acquiring lung disease. But now similar situations exist with healthcare workers and first responders acquiring COVID or developing long COVID.
A study of COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims during 2020 and 2021 across 31 states by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that workers with long COVID claims had symptoms an average of 18 months post-infection. Those workers received more than 20 weeks of temporary disability benefits and about $29,000 in medical care.
Should I look into private disability insurance if I am at risk for COVID-19?
Individuals can buy private disability insurance and should shop around if they are concerned they may need it, Blewett said. A private plan could cover STD, LTD, or both. You may be able to buy disability coverage through your employer or purchase a policy from an insurance company.
Long-term disability plans can replace about 60% of your pre-tax income, but the amount can range from 40% to 65%, according to Forbes Advisor. Policies that cover more of your income will cost more.
Can people with long COVID qualify for FMLA?
If you have been at your job for 12 months or longer, you could qualify for relief under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It requires certain employers to provide workers with unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. If you have a serious health condition or need to serve as a caregiver, ask your human resources department about your FMLA benefits.
Although the typical 12 weeks of leave FMLA provides annually are unpaid, the program can preserve your health benefits and protect your job while you’re away.
The bottom line [[nav title="Bottom line"]]
If your long COVID symptoms are interfering with your ability to work, don’t wait to ask for help. Talk to your healthcare provider, document your conditions, and — if you think you qualify — contact the Social Security Administration to begin the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance.
You may also qualify for disability benefits from your job under the Family and Medical Leave Act or payments through short-term disability or long-term disability. If you have a private disability policy, your long COVID may qualify for a payout.
Why trust our experts?
References
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