Senators Push for Easier Disability Benefits for Long COVID Sufferers

Several U.S. senators have urged the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ease the process for long COVID sufferers seeking disability benefits. Disability rights activists and patients stress the urgent need for these actions.

A letter released Monday was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). They advocated for a more transparent application process, the publication of long COVID data, and the expansion of the SSA’s list of qualifying impairments.

“In some situations, these symptoms can be debilitating and prevent an individual from being able to work, take care of their family, manage their household, or participate in social activities,” the senators wrote to SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley.

Long COVID is a chronic condition that can include fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath following a COVID-19 infection. KFF’s April analysis revealed that about three in ten American adults have experienced long COVID. In March 2024 alone, around 17 million people were afflicted. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized long COVID as a disability under the ADA in 2021.

Kaine has publicly discussed his long COVID experience. Sanders recently introduced legislation proposing $1 billion annually over ten years for long COVID research by the National Institutes of Health.

Lisa McCorkell, co-founder of the Patient Led Research Collaborative, said, “Creating a ruling or listing would be a huge improvement—having specific guidance for how to document long COVID, its related diagnoses, and associated impairments would assist physicians who may not be as knowledgeable about long COVID.”

The SSA administers disability benefits via Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs. Social Security Disability Insurance requires past employment contributions, whereas Supplemental Security Income is based on financial need. To receive benefits, applicants must qualify as having a disability. The average monthly benefit for Social Security Disability Insurance is $1,538.

Researchers are still assessing COVID-19’s economic impact. A 2023 study estimated that COVID-19 reduced the labor force by 500,000, translating to an average labor loss of $9,000 in earnings. A 2022 Minneapolis Fed paper reported that over 25% of long COVID sufferers saw their employment or work hours affected.

Marissa Ditkowsky, disability economic justice counsel at the National Partnership for Women & Families, noted, “Long COVID is not going to go away, particularly as government protections to reduce the spread of COVID are severely lacking.” She added that the impact is disproportionate on women, disabled individuals, and people of color.

Ditkowsky emphasized the need to restore the treating physician rule, which was repealed in 2017. This rule allowed greater consideration of medical evidence from a long-term treating physician.

The senior director of the disability justice initiative at the Center for American Progress, Mia Ives-Rublee, highlighted the need for the Biden administration or future administrations to reform SSA’s disability benefit process, citing an aging population and increased disability among younger people.

“Not only are we seeing an increase in disability among younger folks, but we’re also looking at the big boomer generation getting older. We need real changes and funding to manage the wide variety of experiences people have in applying for these benefits,” Ives-Rublee stated.