Long COVID Disability Lawyer in Wisconsin

Is Long COVID Eligible for Social Security Disability? Symptoms to Document.

One thing we learned during the pandemic: COVID affects different people in extremely different ways.

There are a host of symptoms and related health problems that Social Security now connects to the long-term fallout of COVID-19.

Social Security’s list of long COVID symptoms include:

• Respiratory problems, such as persistent shortness of breath, breathlessness or incessant coughing

• Heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats, palpitations or inflammation

• Blood flow disorders, such as clotting problems, strokes or high blood pressure

• Weight loss or malnutrition

• Edema (swelling)

• Chronic fatigue or the inability to tolerate exercise

• Gastrointestinal conditions, such as diarrhea, constipation or discomfort

• Headaches, chest pain or tingling in your extremities

• Loss of smell

• Tinnitus

• Cognitive impairments

• Mood disorders

Because many of these symptoms are evidence of other impairments that more clearly qualify for disability benefits, you don’t always need to show that long COVID is the reason behind your symptoms.

It’s the combination of all your health conditions—and showing they keep you out of the workforce—that matters most.

You’ll need the help of your doctor to keep thorough records of your struggle with long COVID, from diagnosis to treatment to permanent impacts.

A disability lawyer can make sure you’re doing all you can to prove that long COVID makes you eligible for disability benefits. At Geary Disability Law, we can build your story and make Social Security understand how the pandemic continues to upend your life.

You pay no fee for a disability lawyer until you win benefits.

Let us help relieve some of the stress from your life. Contact us today for a free initial evaluation of your disability claim.

How To Prove Your Long COVID Qualifies for Social Security Disability

To be successful in your long COVID disability application, you need to be familiar with how the claim evaluation process works.

First, you must understand how Social Security defines “disability.”

It considers you to have a qualifying disability if you cannot participate in “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) due to bad health. As of 2025, that means you can’t earn more than $1,620 a month because of your symptoms.

Next, you must directly connect your loss of earnings to your long COVID symptoms. Social Security advises your doctors to keep detailed notes about your story: when you were diagnosed with COVID, what symptoms continue to linger, and how they have impacted your quality of life.

Interestingly, Social Security doesn’t require a positive test for the COVID-19 virus in order to be eligible for long COVID disability benefits. It’s your symptoms that count.

Your doctor and Wisconsin disability attorney can help you collect evidence for your application, including:

• Imaging or MRI results

• Lab results

• Physical exams

• Treatment plans (Social Security will want to see that you’ve stuck with your treatment but haven’t recovered)

• Mental health exams

• Evidence of any other disorders you may have

Wisconsin’s Disability Determination Bureau (DDB), the state agency that assesses your eligibility for Social Security benefits, will be the first to look at your case.

They may come back to you for more proof or request you undergo an independent medical evaluation before they offer a decision.

Don’t despair if your disability claims is denied. Over several years on average, Social Security has rejected about 80 percent of initial applications.

The disability benefits team at Geary Disability Law can help, whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a denial.

When long COVID takes over your life, we’ll help you take it back.

Get started today.