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Social Security Administration issues new guidance for long COVID sufferers

August 3, 2023

This summer, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issued new guidance for people who are affected with Long COVID and who are seeking Social Security Disability. Long Covid: A Guide for Health Professionals on Providing Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability Claims was created to assist health professionals to describe the kinds of medical evidence the SSA needs to make a determination of disability.

In January 2022, we covered the SSA’s guidelines in our article Are People with Long COVID eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits? The new guidelines not only provide more detailed information as to the types of symptoms that may be observed in Long COVID patients, but establish that a positive viral test result for SARS-CoV-2 is not necessary for a diagnosis of long COVID. The SSA clarifies that “in evaluating disability for individuals with Long COVID, the team looks at all the available evidence, including the clinical course from the onset of the illness, and considers the impact of the illness on each affect body system.”

If you have questions about Social Security Disability and Long COVID, contact us online or call (412) 338-1183.