Completely incapacitated, people with long COVID face delays of more than two years to determine whether they are entitled to a disability pension. Unable to work, some end up financially ruined.
For most of us, COVID-19 is now just a distant memory. But for those unfortunate enough to suffer from long COVID, it remains a burden that can be nearly insurmountable. The stakes are high: long COVID is estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of people in Switzerland, often severely, with women being three times more at risk than men.
“From the moment I wake up in the morning, I’m utterly exhausted, unable to get out of bed,” says Nicole Spychiger on RTS’s programme A Bon Entendeur. This mother of two contracted COVID in October 2021. According to the disability insurance (AI), rehabilitation is not possible for her. Since December 2023, her income-loss insurance has stopped providing benefits. She has since lost her job. Because of her illness, she is unable to visit the unemployment office and therefore does not receive unemployment benefits. AI has advised her to apply for social assistance.
Crowdfunding for Survival
Over time, Nicole Spychiger and her family exhausted their savings before even receiving a decision on whether she would be granted a pension. They are surviving thanks to a crowdfunding campaign organised by a friend.
“This crowdfunding is really an act of desperation for us because we didn’t know how to pay the bills, home care, or even fill the fridge,” she laments. “And to think that we’re in Switzerland, relying on financial help from friends and even strangers just to keep our heads above water!”
Similar Stories of Struggle
Her story resonates with others, like that of Sophie Verniers, a former nurse at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). In November 2020, she contracted COVID while caring for patients and has not recovered. Since then, she has experienced profound fatigue and mental fog.
“Last week, I got lost in my own neighbourhood, where I’ve lived for six years! I can’t even remember my food preferences. I taste things, but I don’t know if I like them or not,” she shares.
Chronic Fatigue and Recovery
Dr. Mayssam Nehme, head of the post-COVID consultation at HUG, highlights the debilitating nature of the condition: “The most common symptom is what we call fatigue, but in reality, it’s more about post-exertion malaise or crashes. A person with long COVID may attempt minimal physical or mental effort and feel utterly drained, requiring days to recover.”
This makes working impossible for many, including Sophie Verniers, who is also financially strained: “Today, we’re left with nothing, as if we’re being abandoned to starve. I no longer receive family allowances because I don’t have an employer. Luckily, I had savings to keep my apartment and feed my children. Otherwise, what would I do? I’m only asking for what I’m entitled to.”
Lengthy Processes and Low Pension Approval Rates
Florian Steinbacher, deputy director of the Federal Office for Social Insurance, acknowledges the challenges: “We have long procedures because we must first explore all possibilities for reintegration. Sometimes, we require medical expertise, but experts are rare, leading to delays.”
The average processing time for disability claims is nearly two years, but cases involving long COVID tend to take even longer due to its complexity. By the end of 2023, about 12% of long COVID applicants had been granted a pension. Steinbacher notes that an upcoming study may shed more light on the issue, with early indications suggesting a higher approval rate for long COVID cases compared to other conditions.
