When people in Florida and across the country are injured at work and seek to receive Social Security disability benefits for injury, they must be aware of the rules regarding receiving workers’ compensation and Social Security disability simultaneously. If the person who was injured and has an inability to work, he or she will be able to receive payments from private insurance and other sources without it having an influence on receiving Social Security disability. However, if there are workers’ compensation benefits or other forms of disability benefits, it might reduce the amount the person is eligible for under Social Security disability.
The total amount of workers’ compensation or other public disability benefits can’t surpass 80 percent of the average earnings prior to suffering from the injury leading to the inability to work. If, for example, the person was disabled and at the time was making approximately $4,000 per month, the amounts received can be affected. The injured person would be eligible to get $2,200 from Social Security disability each month under this formula. In addition, workers’ compensation would pay $2,000 each month. Since the total amount would be $200 higher than what the person was making while working and is more than 80 percent of the average amount that was earned — $3,200 — the benefits would be diminished by $1,000 each month.
It is important to keep the Social Security Administration up to date on any changes that occur when it comes to disability payments or a total loss of benefits. If the amount received under workers’ compensation is raised or lowered, the SSA must know. This is probably going to influence the amount received in Social Security disability. Those who receive their workers’ compensation payment in a lump sum must also be aware that this too can affect the Social Security disability benefits.
The intricacies of qualifying SSD benefits for injury can be difficult to navigate. Any mistake or failure to fully inform the agency of changes in the payments can result in a delayed or denied claim. In some instances, an individual who is receiving workers’ compensation might not know that there is also the possibility to receive Social Security disability benefits for injury. Assistance from a legal professional experienced in Social Security disability can help to learn the various rules when it comes to benefits.
Source: SSA.gov, “How Workers’ Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits,” accessed on Dec. 14, 2014
