Avoiding financial destitution with long Covid

Posted by Athena Atkins @athenaatkins, Feb 29, 2024

Hi all,

I have a thread going about post-exertional malaise, but I also wanted to get some advice on finances while dealing with long Covid. Up until this point (I am seven weeks out from the initial infection), my work has been great about letting me work from home and even go into the negative with my paid time off, but another crash this week means that I am, yet again, not going to make the 30 hour minimum I need to work to maintain full time status. In fact, I have only been able to meet that 30 hour/week goal once since I got sick. I need to have some income, because ALL THE BILLS, but I don’t know what options I have.

Can you share how you are managing to survive financially while dealing with long Covid? Are you working part-time and getting state/federal assistance? Are you not working and on short-term or long-term disability? Can you also share the challenges or obstacles that you have faced trying to get financial support, and how you overcame them? I am just terrified right now about how my family and I will survive as I face the reality that I may not be able to work full time for the foreseeable future.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

RMS | @rinadbq | Jan 10 7:24am

In reply to @sherryoct11 "30 years med/surg RN, worked as Charge in my hospitals first COVID unit, May 2020 until..." + (show)

I feel ya, no one remembers and covid is no longer given the respect it is due for the damage it did to us health care heroes.

npinner04 | @npinner04 | Jan 10 8:40am

In reply to @sherryoct11 "30 years med/surg RN, worked as Charge in my hospitals first COVID unit, May 2020 until..." + (show)

Fellow ex nurse here whose life has been turned upside down with long covid since 2021. I got social security disability and I used a firm called Allsup. They were in an article speaking about patients with long covid and getting disability. They were a godsend. Everything was handled email/phone. I pray they can help you too. The world fails to realize the deep impact Covid has had on frontline workers all over the world. Good luck

c1john | @c1john | Jan 11 12:04pm

In reply to @npinner04 "Fellow ex nurse here whose life has been turned upside down with long covid since 2021...." + (show)

Thank you! I was denied the first time for SSI and SSDI so I will give them a try. I hope you are doing okay!

npinner04 | @npinner04 | Jan 11 1:35pm

In reply to @c1john "Thank you! I was denied the first time for SSI and SSDI so I will give..." + (show)

I was too and they just took over from my denial. No not better at all. Just taking it one day at a time. Really that’s all we can do. Good luck!

law59 | @law59 | Jan 12 9:34am

How many former healthcare/frontline workers here helping all truly be heard! Thank you

coopm0m | @coopm0m | 6 days ago

I also struggle with not being able to work. I got Covid November 2020. When I did return to work 24-30 hours/week, I had no energy left for my family or my home. I was pushing myself to keep working but in the end I had to leave my job. I will make note to follow this thread. My doctor said I would qualify medically for disability. I am so afraid to even try.

npinner04 | @npinner04 | 6 days ago

In reply to @coopm0m "I also struggle with not being able to work. I got Covid November 2020. When I..." + (show)

I don’t know if I am allowed to do this, but they really really helped and when I had to go to court they sent an attorney. I learned about them from an article is USA Today concerning people with long covid .

npinner04 | @npinner04 | 6 days ago

In reply to @npinner04 "I don’t know if I am allowed to do this, but they really really helped and..." + (show)

Never had to leave home except for the court date in front of the social security judge, which was great because I am mostly home bed bound

stillhaulin | @stillhaulin | 5 days ago

In reply to @lynnryan "Does your company have short term disability leave? I had to go on it, as I..." + (show)

My company has disability both short and long. The problem with the FMLA servicer (Sedgwick) is they will not accept Long Haul Covid as a diagnosis. Even Medicare accepts that diagnosis now. (New ICD-10 coding for Post COVID-19 condition, unspecified (U09. 9) Providers should list U09. 9 seconndary to specific codes for ongoing conditions after a COVID-19 infection, such as shortness of breath (R06).) Sedgwick claim examiners refuse to accept it, even though all insurance companies are accepting along with Medicare and Medicaid. It is my opinion that Sedgwick is flauting Federal guidance on this matter. I believe there should be a class action lawsuit against Sedgwick for this very definite push back that affects the adequate management of the FMLA laws.

earthangel | @earthangel | 13 hours ago

In reply to @c1john "Thank you! I was denied the first time for SSI and SSDI so I will give..." + (show)

Everyone is denied the first time. Look for a Social Security Disability Lawyer. They only get paid when you are approved, which is normally after being disabled for at least a year. Don't give up, file an appeal and look for a lawyer who will help you get through it.

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