Failure to support long Covid sufferers could add billions to benefits bill, Rishi Sunak warned

Exclusive: Labour says worklessness due to people suffering from the virus long-term could be costing £3bn a year

People living with long Covid report fatigue, headaches and muscle aches (Alamy/PA)

The government’s failure to support people with long Covid could be adding billions of pounds a year to the benefits bill, Labour has warned.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party said Rishi Sunak and his ministers had “no plan” to help those suffering from ongoing symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and palpitations.

Worklessness due to long Covid could be costing £3bn a year in sickness benefits, according to Labour analysis shared with The Independent.