August 07, 2024

Duckworth, Kaine, Markey Press Social Security Administration to Help Those with Long Covid Overcome Barriers to Disability Benefits

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) led their colleagues in pushing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to address the barriers those with Long COVID face when applying for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration.

“According to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18.4 percent of U.S. adults have experienced Long COVID and over 25 percent of people with Long COVID say they experience significant limitations due to their condition,” the Senators wrote in their letter. “…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.”

“SSA should address the barriers those living with Long COVID face in accessing the benefits they have earned. There are straightforward steps SSA can take to make the disability application process easier and more transparent,” the Senators continued.

Specifically, the Senators called on the SSA to:

  • Track and publish data on applications that may be related to Long COVID by tracking applications that submit documentation related to COVID, Long COVID and common Long COVID diagnoses. Data published should include the number of applications received, number of applications approved, number of applications denied, including the reason for denial and number of applications appealed.
  • Thoroughly review the conclusions of a report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and, if appropriate, create a new Long COVID ruling or expand the Listing of Impairments to include health effects identified in the report. Such ruling or listing should include guidance for evaluating claims involving common Long COVID diagnoses and be developed with input from Long COVID patient groups and attorneys specializing in these cases to establish criteria for evaluating claims related to Long COVID.
  • Allow appointed representatives to see all exhibits at the initial and reconsideration disability claim stages. This would allow claimants’ advocates to explain the basis for SSA’s denials and possibly fix issues with the application.
  • Restore the “treating physician rule” so a claimant’s primary care physician or Long COVID specialist can have their medical opinion given the weight it deserves.

A copy of the letter text can be found on Senator Kaine’s website.

Along with Duckworth, Kaine and Markey, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tina Smith (D-MN).  

Duckworth, Kaine and Markey have long advocated for those with Long COVID. Together, the Senators introduced the Comprehensive Access to Resources and Education (CARE) For Long COVID Act, legislation to help people living with long-term COVID-19 symptoms by improving research and providing resources for people with Long COVID.

In 2022, Duckworth introduced the Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID (TREAT Long COVID) Act, which would increase access and treatment for communities and individuals struggling with long COVID by empowering healthcare providers—including community health centers and local public health departments—to treat long COVID patients in their own communities.

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