Disability Benefits for Flu & COVID Complications

Read Time: 4 Minutes.

Complications from COVID and flu-like symptoms, for some, have proved hard to resolve and treat. As a result, these conditions can, in some cases, permanently impact your health. In severe cases, some people have experienced a domino effect of symptoms leading up to multi-organ failure 😷

However, getting approved for disability benefits isn’t going to be easy. If you’re one of the many people who are struggling to recover from a flu-like illness, take your time to read this carefully, and DON’T hesitate to call me at 417-812-6698 if you have any questions.

How to Qualify for Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has many qualifying factors that can change by state or region. While this list comes nowhere NEAR all-inclusive, take a look to see how many of these qualifications apply to you.

You are considered working age (18-65)
Your condition is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death
You cannot work or engage in Substantial Gainful Activities (SGA) because of your medical condition
You cannot do the work that you’ve previously done or have had to make drastic adjustments
Learning new forms of work is determined not to be an option for you

Again, this is only a general guideline provided by the SSA.

Odds You’ll Get Disability Benefits for the Flu or COVID

As stated above: to qualify for long-term disability, your condition MUST be expected to last for at least a year or longer. But here’s the big takeaway that we’re going to talk about 👇

The SSA doesn’t approve disability claims by the diagnosis, but rather the individual’s LIMITATIONS.

For example, a complication of long COVID is chronic fatigue, which could limit your stamina and erode your mental faculties. In turn, each could severely impact your ability to find and sustain work. It is the functional loss, not the name of the condition that is central to disability determination.

So what does this mean for you? What are your limitations? Can you make it through the day without frequent naps? How long can you be on your feet? What kind of accommodations do you need from your employer? Or if you are experiencing brain fog that makes it difficult to concentrate for more than a few minutes, this too could be a qualifying limitation.

It’s important to note that each case is unique and will be evaluated on an individual basis. Before applying for disability benefits, it’s crucial to understand your limitations and how they impact your ability to work. Imagine you supervising yourself at work. How would you struggle and fail?

The SSA Will Consider Multiple Conditions

Now that we’ve talked about some examples, it’s time to point out some common factors. It’s not COVID or chronic flu-like symptoms that are preventing you from working; it’s something more complicated. It’s chronic fatigue, respiratory issues, or another compounding issue from a condition and the effects they have on work-like functions.

So back to the magic question: Can you get disability benefits from the flu or COVID?

Maybe, depending on the severity of the impact of those symptoms and conditions on your ability to compete for employment. You have to communicate what you’re experiencing in a way that the doctors providing your care and SSA can understand and evaluate the loss of function.

Talk to your doctor. Make sure that you’re explaining all of your symptoms and complications with them. And if you do have pre-existing conditions, don’t forget to keep them updated on what you’re going through, even if it’s not the reason for your doctor’s visit. Having those details in your medical record will make it much easier for the SSA to get a clear picture of what’s going on in your daily life. Remember to focus on the impact and limits of the condition as they help grade the condition’s severity.

Here’s How Our Disability Representative Can Help!

As a local representative, our disability advocate will know your case from start to finish. We’ll be involved every step of the way, and you’ll speak to the same person every time.

For that reason, we don’t just fine-tune what you have and put it together in a cut-and-paste format. We’ll meticulously review your case and provide feedback on the weak areas of your application and offer clear directions on what information we need and where you can find them.

Whether you’ve already begun the application process or are just getting started, we encourage you to schedule a FREE consultation to help determine the best strategy for your case 🤗 Our mission is to make your case the easiest one to approve so you can focus on your health and the things that matter.

⏰ Schedule an appointment from anywhere in the US! 📱

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