Valérie is afraid of falling into the hole of an unrecognized illness.
Written testimony
Puis là dans le fond, de mon côté, étant donné la gravité de mes symptômes, on a commencé les démarches l’année passée, pour faire une demande de rente d’invalidité à la RRQ parce que comme je disais, je n’ai aucune assurance, je n’ai rien. Il n’y a aucune autre possibilité pour moi parce que c’est juste impossible que je puisse retourner travailler. J’ai eu des médecins qui ont rempli des rapports comme quoi ça allait être permanent, que dans le fond mon état, si jamais ça s’améliore, ça va être très, très graduellement puis on ne sait pas jusqu’à quel point, mais ça se peut fortement que ce soit insuffisant pour que j’aie la possibilité de travailler. Donc la seule option que j’ai en ce moment, c’est la RRQ et au Québec, on est la seule province au Canada, où la rente d’invalidité temporaire n’existe pas. Et ça, ça crée un gros, gros trou dans lequel il y a beaucoup de personnes qui ont la COVID longue qui tombent dedans. Et dans d’autres cas aussi évidemment, mais là on parle de la COVID longue, mais on est énormément de personnes qui se retrouvent dans cette situation-là, à tomber dans le trou de l’invalidité est-elle permanente ou pas? Puis la notion de permanence est très difficile à prouver quand c’est une nouvelle maladie.
[And then, basically, on my side, given the severity of my symptoms, we started the process last year to apply for a disability pension from the RRQ because, as I was saying, I have no insurance, I have nothing. There’s no other option for me because it’s just impossible for me to go back to work. I’ve had doctors fill out reports saying that it’s going to be permanent, that basically my condition, if it ever gets better, it’s going to be very, very gradual and then we don’t know to what extent, but it may very well be insufficient for me to be able to work. So the only option I have at the moment is the QPP, and in Quebec, we’re the only province in Canada where there’s no temporary disability pension. And that creates a big, big hole into which many people with long term COVID fall. And in other cases too, of course, but we’re talking about the long COVID here, but there are a huge number of people who find themselves in this situation, falling into the disability hole – is it permanent or not? And the notion of permanence is very difficult to prove when it’s a new illness.] Translation from original French.
More content
- Mental Health Support – ValérieValérie had limited mental health support because she had to pay out of pocket.
- Getting Care for Long COVID – ValérieValérie made repeat visits to ER because she couldn't get help elsewhere.
- Complementary and Alternative Care – ValérieValérie gained a sense of control over her symptoms with the help of her kinesiologist.
- Support From Family, Friends, Communities – ValérieValérie notices her supporters running out of steam.
- Impacts on Children and Parenting – ValérieValérie wishes her children didn't have so much responsibility.
- Loss of Income and Need for Financial Support – ValérieValérie is afraid of falling into the hole of an unrecognized illness.
- Loss of Income and Need for Financial Support – ValérieValérie was studying to become a teacher. There was no teaching during lockdown so she was not entitled to employment insurance.
- People with Long COVID Advocating for Themselves – ValérieValérie is fighting to get her disability recognized after her application for social assistance was refused.
- Advice to Others Living With Long COVID – ValérieValérie warns that pushing yourself too hard can have long-term negative consequences.
- Psychosocial Impacts – ValérieValérie hits the wall emotionally every time her symptoms flare up.