Before she contracted COVID in 2020, practice nurse Sally* led a very fit and active life, enjoying a range of different outdoor pursuits. “But afterwards, even going to a friend’s house for a cup of tea was too much for me,” she says. “Now if I have to walk more than 100 yards or so, I use a wheelchair.”
Although she’d returned to work, Sally continued to struggle with long COVID, characterised by extreme fatigue, alongside postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), which can make her feel dizzy and faint after sitting up or standing. “I had to reduce what I was able to do at work,” Sally explains. “I limited being up and about as much as possible, moving towards telephone consultations rather than seeing patients face-to-face.”
Unfortunately, her health took a significant downturn in the autumn and she also began to experience difficulties with her employers. Sally contacted the RCN’s welfare support service to see what kinds of help might be available.
Industrial injury
As she’d originally contracted COVID from a patient, Sally was supported by the team to apply for industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB), payable to those who have become ill or disabled as a result of an accident or disease at work.
The RCN has been brilliant. I couldn’t have got this without their support
“When I heard they’d acknowledged it was an industrial injury, it made me feel very emotional,” says Sally, who’s been nursing for more than 10 years. “Just having that recognition makes me feel validated. The RCN has been brilliant and I couldn’t have got through the last two years without their support.”
For RCN senior welfare advisor Claire Cannings, it’s a pivotal moment. “It’s the first time we’ve managed to achieve this benefit for one our members,” she says. “It took nearly six months for all the paperwork to go through, but we’re delighted to have been able to help Sally. We’re pushing hard to repeat the success for other members.”
Financial relief
Practically speaking, the cash Sally receives makes a big difference to her day-to-day life. Successful claimants receive a weekly sum, depending on individual circumstances. To achieve the benefit, applicants must be assessed as being at least 14% disabled, with payment scales ranging from £37.72 for those up to 20% disabled, to a maximum of £188.60 for those 100% disabled. Claimants can still work and receive other benefits as appropriate.
“The financial side is a relief because it’s enabled me to reduce my working hours,” says Sally, who has now changed jobs and works in the independent sector. “I don’t have to worry about trying to keep up with a job that’s just not sustainable. A lot of managing long COVID is around pacing yourself, and if you’re constantly having to battle to keep up with work demands, it’s not conducive to your recovery. I’m now doing something that feels much more manageable and am no longer in a cycle of work, work, work and then crashing.”
Currently IIDB covers more than 70 diseases, including asthma, emphysema and deafness, but long COVID is not yet listed – something Claire is keen to see rectified. “We’re pushing to see it added, but progress has been set back by so many changes in government,” she says. “There’s been a catalogue of things slowing it down, including those who were going to take it forward moving to different cabinet positions. Once it is recognised as an industrial disease, the process will be much more straightforward.”
In the meantime, successful claims hinge on being able to prove that contracting long COVID was most likely the result of something that happened at work, says Claire. “In Sally’s case, we had a very clear incident,” she says. “The balance of probability was that she caught COVID at that time from a patient at work.”
Applying for benefits
People with long COVID may be able to apply for other benefits too, depending on their individual circumstances. This includes personal independence payment (PIP), which can help with extra living costs for someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and has difficulty doing some everyday tasks or getting around.
Sally’s case gives inspiration to others who might be experiencing something similar
There may also be the option of a personal injury claim. “Although the advantage of IIDB is that no one is apportioning blame,” says Claire. “It isn’t about whether the employers or your colleagues are at fault. You just have to prove it took place at work.” But finding the evidence can be tricky, she admits. “Being able to pinpoint a specific time and place someone has been exposed to COVID at work, rather than in a family or social situation, has been troublesome for some applicants.” If claims are rejected, the RCN is supporting members through the appeals process.
Now Claire hopes this recent success will encourage more members to apply for IIDB. “Sally’s case gives inspiration to others who might be experiencing something similar,” says Claire. “We can help you fill in all the necessary forms. We’re here to help members and we want them to know they can turn to us for expert support and advice.”
Peer support
Nursing staff are the largest occupational group of the estimated 1.5 million plus affected by long COVID, which means providing support for affected individuals is vital. As part of a growing package of support, the RCN has a Long COVID Peer Support Group, which has 250 members on Facebook. A closed group, members can give and receive non-professional support.
“Primarily it’s for members to connect with each and share their experiences,” says Holly Chadd, RCN Disability Officer and Operational Lead. “They can talk about how they’re feeling and anything they’ve found helpful. There’s a perception that COVID is over now, but for many of our members that’s far from the case.”
In addition, members hear the latest information and can be signposted to RCN sources of support, including welfare and counselling services. They are also consulted about various long COVID-related issues, providing valuable insights.
“Long COVID is very new, so we’re trying to understand as much as we can about how people are affected by it,” explains Holly. “This is a unique moment and it can be very scary and frustrating for our members, who can feel forgotten and very isolated. But this group helps people feel less alone. They can help lift each other up.”
