Those suffering from a “long COVID” may be eligible for disability



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  • President Biden has said those suffering from “long COVID” could qualify for disability assistance.
  • Long COVID is defined as symptoms that last for weeks or months after recovery from COVID-19, according to the CDC.
  • Individual assessments would be done to see if the symptoms significantly limit the quality of life.
  • Visit the Insider home page for more stories.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that those suffering from long-term symptoms of COVID-19 could qualify for disability assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act and receive additional help and resources.

“Many Americans who appear to be recovering from the virus still face persistent problems such as breathing problems, brain fog, chronic pain and fatigue,” he said in his speech at the Rose Garden commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“These conditions can sometimes reach the level of a handicap,” he added.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “long COVID” is defined as “new or continuing symptoms” that last for weeks or months, even after recovering from COVID-19. One study has indicated that up to one in three people infected with COVID-19 could suffer long-term effects after recovery, Insider reported.

The United States has recorded more than 34 million cases of COVID-19 at the time of writing, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

But not all people with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 would be eligible for the disability, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division noted.

“An individualized assessment is needed to determine whether a person’s long-term COVID condition or any of their symptoms significantly limits a major life activity,” he said in guidelines released Monday.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990, it is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. The law guarantees people with disabilities equal opportunities in areas such as employment, housing and transport.

In the United States, more than 60 million adults live with a disability, according to the CDC.

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