If you’re living with long COVID, you already know how much it can turn your life upside down. Issues like fatigue, brain fog, and ongoing health problems can make even simple daily tasks feel overwhelming, let alone holding down a job.
Claim what you worked for.
Many people in your situation wonder if disability benefits could provide some relief, but the rules aren’t always clear. That’s why it’s important to understand the long COVID disability requirements and what the Social Security Administration looks for when reviewing claims.
In this article, we’ll discuss what long COVID is, how the Social Security Administration evaluates it, and how you can build a strong case for the benefits you deserve.
Key Takeaways
- The Social Security Administration may recognize long COVID as a disabling condition if your symptoms are severe, well documented, and prevent you from working.
- Strong medical evidence is essential – To qualify for benefits, you must provide detailed medical records showing your long COVID diagnosis, ongoing symptoms, and how they limit your ability to work.
- Long COVID claims are often evaluated under related conditions. Because long COVID is not listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, disability claims are typically evaluated under other conditions it causes or worsens.
In this article about long COVID disability requirements:
What is long COVID?
Long COVID is a chronic condition that occurs after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, or more commonly known as COVID-19, and symptoms are still present for at least three months.
Because long COVID is a relatively new occurrence, there’s no single universal definition yet. However, it is agreed upon by the scientific and medical communities that long COVID can involve a wide range of symptoms that may come and go, get worse, or remain constant.
According to the American Lung Association, long COVID has over 200 identified symptoms, but common symptoms include:
- Severe fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Memory and concentration problems (“brain fog”)
- Loss of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Sleep disturbances
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Digestive issues
Anyone who has had COVID-19 can develop long COVID, even if their initial infection was mild or symptom-free. Symptoms may appear weeks or months after recovery from the acute illness.
Is long COVID a disability?
Long COVID may qualify as a disability under certain circumstances. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can recognize it as a disabling condition, and both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice have identified long COVID as a potential disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the SSA, long COVID may qualify as a disability depending on your diagnosis, when your symptoms began, how long they are expected to last, and your overall prognosis. Strong medical evidence is critical to a successful claim. Social Security’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) will carefully review your records for documentation of your long COVID diagnosis, the severity and duration of your symptoms, and any related conditions that may be caused or worsened by it.
Following the SSA’s guidelines, long COVID can trigger new health conditions or worsen existing ones. Some people have developed or experienced flare-ups of:
- Lung disease
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Stroke or blood clots
- Mood disorders (like anxiety or depression)
- Dysautonomic conditions, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
However, getting approved for disability for long COVID can still be challenging. To qualify, you must show that your symptoms prevent you from working and provide strong medical evidence to support your claim.
Alternatively, you may also be eligible for disability if you have also been diagnosed with another condition alongside your long COVID diagnosis.
What are the long COVID disability requirements?
Long COVID isn’t specifically listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, but that doesn’t automatically disqualify you from receiving benefits.
To qualify under the SSA’s definition of disability, you must meet Social Security’s definition of disability. This means that:
- Your condition must prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA)
- You’re unable to do the work you previously did, or you’re unable to adjust to other work
- You must meet the SSA’s work history and work credit requirements
- You must be expected to last at least 12 months, or result in death.
Additionally, the SSA evaluates long COVID under the listings for other body systems. This is because long COVID can cause a wide variety of complications throughout the entire body. Your evaluation will ultimately depend on how long COVID affects you and what related conditions you’ve developed.
Below is a table outlining a few conditions caused or worsened by, or otherwise associated with, long COVID that could help you determine whether you qualify for disability benefits.
| Blue Book section | Qualifying condition |
| Section 3.00 – Respiratory Disorders | Chronic respiratory disorders due to any cause except cystic fibrosis (Section 3.02) Chronic pulmonary hypertension due to any cause (Section 3.09) Respiratory failure resulting from any underlying chronic respiratory disorder (Section 3.14) |
| Section 4.00 – Cardiovascular Disorders | Chronic heart failure (Section 4.02) Ischemic heart disease (Section 4.04) Recurrent arrhythmias (Section 4.05) Peripheral arterial disease (Section 4.12) |
| Section 6.00 – Genitourinary Disorders | Chronic kidney disease with chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (Section 6.03) Chronic kidney disease with a kidney transplant (Section 6.04) Chronic kidney disease with impairment of kidney function (Section 6.05) Complications of chronic kidney disease (Section 6.09) |
| Section 7.00 – Hematological Disorders | Thrombosis (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) (Section 7.08) |
| Section 11.00 – Neurological Disorders | Strokes/Vascular insult to the brain (Section 11.04) |
| Section 12.00 – Mental Disorders | Depression (Section 12.04) Anxiety (Section 12.06) |
| Section 14.00 – Immune Disorders | Lupis (Section 14.02) Rheumatoid arthritis (Section 14.09) Sjögren’s syndrome (Section 14.10) |
| Conditions not specifically listed in the Blue Book | Fibromyalgia (Ruling SSR 12-2p) Diabetes (Ruling SSR 14-2p) |
The exact link between long COVID and these additional health issues is still not fully understood, but researchers have a few theories. One suggests the virus disrupts the immune system, causing it to attack healthy cells by mistake. Another theory suggests COVID-19 may trigger a latent viral reactivation, meaning it “wakes up” a dormant virus already in your body.
Even though long COVID doesn’t appear in the Blue Book, you may still be approved if it’s considered medically equivalent in severity to a listed condition.
Providing detailed medical documentation is key to proving your condition meets or equals a Blue Book listing. Working with an experienced disability lawyer can also strengthen your case and improve your chances of approval.
What evidence can help your claim?
To build a strong case to support your long COVID disability application, you can start by reviewing the SSA’s specific criteria and directly linking your symptoms to the requirements listed in the Blue Book. Then you’ll want to gather extensive evidence showing your symptoms meet the SSA’s criteria.
Medical evidence can include:
- Medical history reports
- Clinical findings (such as the results of physical or mental status exams)
- Lab results or test results
- Imaging (such as CT scans, x-rays, and MRIs)
- Emergency room visit summaries
- Diagnosis
- Treatment prescribed based on response and prognosis
- A statement from a medical professional on what work activities they believe you are capable of doing despite your condition
- Any treatment information
- Info about your daily activities and capabilities
Submitting thorough medical evidence to support your diagnosis and keeping a personal log detailing how your symptoms impact your daily life and ability to work can also help support your claim. These details add valuable context and make your claim more compelling.
How long does it take to get a disability decision?
When considering how long a disability claim can take, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
The time it takes to get a disability decision depends on several factors, like whether the SSA needs more information to process your claim. On average, the wait for an initial SSDI decision is about 6.3 months, or roughly 193 days.
According to the SSA’s 2024 Annual Report, about 18% of applications were approved at this stage, meaning nearly four out of five claims were denied.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re denied. You can appeal, but be aware that the appeals process can add another six months or more to your wait.
How do I appeal a decision if I was denied?
If your SSDI application is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. According to the SSA, approximately 80% of SSDI claims are rejected at the initial level, often due to insufficient medical evidence, limited work history, or other technical issues. Because the appeals process can take time, it’s important to act quickly – you only have 60 days to file your appeal.
While appealing a denial is always worthwhile, it doesn’t guarantee approval, as many applicants are denied even after multiple appeals. However, working with an experienced disability lawyer can help strengthen your case and improve your chances of success.
How Woods & Woods can help
Having a disability shouldn’t mean losing your peace of mind. At Woods & Woods, we help individuals with disabilities connect with legal help. If you’re seeking SSDI benefits, call us today for a free case evaluation.
Don’t face Social Security alone.
Frequently asked questions
To qualify for disability, the Social Security Administration requires that you:
• Are unable to work for at least 12 months, or your condition may lead to your death
• Meet the SSA’s work history and work credit requirements
• Have a condition supported by strong medical evidence, such as doctors’ reports, test results, and details about your symptoms and prognosis
Yes, but only if your long COVID symptoms are severe enough to keep you from working for at least a year or will result in death, and you have strong medical evidence to support your claim for benefits.
Lori Underwood
Lori Underwood received her law degree from Northern Kentucky University. She previously practiced Social Security disability and personal injury law and was a juvenile court attorney.
She has been an attorney at
Woods & Woods since 2014.
