As the effects of the coronavirus become better understood, doctors are beginning to realize that COVID-19 is not just a simple infection. For many people, COVID can result in serious long-term medical issues, with some victims left with permanent disabilities. And for those who already have disabilities, the coronavirus can worsen existing conditions to the point where they become unmanageable.
The Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Observation of people who have suffered from a coronavirus infection has found that many people experience long-term health problems, even after the disease has run its course. Most commonly, these problems take the form of cardiovascular issues such as increased difficulty breathing and a loss of stamina. These symptoms, which mimic COVID-19 itself, are often referred to as “long COVID,” with sufferers dealing with lung scarring and heart damage for months after the virus has left their system.
As if that were not bad enough, COVID-19’s effects are not limited only to the heart and lungs. It is fairly common, for example, for many victims to lose their senses of taste and smell when they become infected, and some never recover those senses. People who suffer from a coronavirus infection tend to have an increased risk of blood clots, which has a chance of causing strokes or embolisms. Other victims have been known to suffer neurological symptoms, including dizziness, muscle weakness, and even seizures.
COVID-19 and People With Disabilities
Due to these effects, an entirely new class of people are finding themselves with disabilities they now must manage, with some so severely impaired they can no longer work. Those who already had disabilities prior to COVID may also find their symptoms significantly worsened by the disease, with previously manageable disabilities becoming bad enough that even medical treatment cannot keep them under control. As a result, more people than ever will need disability benefits to help support them.
Regardless of whether you needed disability benefits before or whether you have recently suffered a disability due to a coronavirus infection, you should consult an attorney about the benefits that may be available to you. They can help to guide you on how you can apply for disability benefits programs like Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income to help you. Or, if you have previously applied for benefits but have been denied, they can help with your appeal to give you a better chance of success to access the benefits you deserve.
If you or a loved one need assistance applying for SSDI or SSI benefits, it is important that you seek the guidance of an experienced Social Security Disability benefits lawyer. The lawyers at Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP have over 50 years of combined experience between its attorneys and are available to you or your loved one in obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. To schedule a consultation with our New York Social Security Disability benefits lawyers, call (631) 823-7155.
