SOAR Webinar: Documenting Long COVID for Disability Determination

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to Long COVID as “a broad range of symptoms (physical and mental) that develop during or after COVID-19 infection which continue for weeks, months, or longer and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.” While the Social Security Administration (SSA) is considering new guidance on Long COVID, this webinar will share current information on how COVID-19 has impacted the usual disability process so that SOAR practitioners can understand how to best document these claims.

This webinar will include presentations from Disability Determination Services (DDS) staff on how they are evaluating claims with a COVID-19 impairment and how SOAR providers can help with providing documentation including both physical and mental health symptoms. We will also hear from a SOAR Provider and a SOAR Beneficiary about their experiences documenting and being awarded disability benefits due to the impact of Long COVID. Also, panelists will share information on how SOAR practitioners can identify and address issues related to long COVID, including barriers to treatment and symptoms documentation so they can help the DDS examiners connect the dots.

• Dr. J. Scott Pritchard, D.O., Lead Medical Consultant, Oregon Disability Determination Services, Salem, Oregon
• Julie Kujath, Nevada DDS Claims Examiner, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Jessica Stoudmire, MSW, SOAR Benefits Service Coordinator, Veterans Leadership Program (VLP), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• SOAR-assisted SSI Beneficiary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania