Certain Disability Payments and Workers’ Compensation May Affect Your Social Security Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 17, 2020
Many people working nowadays have more than one job. This means they have several sources of income. It’s important to keep in mind that having multiple sources of income can sometimes affect your Social Security benefits; but, it depends on the source.
Disability payments from private sources, such as private pensions or insurance benefits, don’t affect your Social Security disability benefits. Workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits, however, may reduce what you receive from Social Security. Workers’ compensation benefits are paid to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. These benefits may be paid by federal or state workers’ compensation agencies, employers, or by insurance companies on behalf of employers.
Public disability payments that may affect your Social Security benefits are those paid from a federal, state, or local government for disabling medical conditions that are not job-related. Examples of these are civil service disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits that are based on disability.
Some public benefits don’t affect your Social Security disability benefits. If you receive Social Security disability benefits, and one of the following types of public benefits, your Social Security benefits will not be reduced:
- Veterans Administration benefits;
- State and local government benefits, if Social Security taxes were deducted from your earnings; or
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
You can read How Workers’ Compensation and Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits to find out about the possible ways your benefits might be reduced.
Please be sure to report changes. If there is a change in the amount of your other disability payment, or if those benefits stop, please notify us right away. Tell us if the amount of your workers’ compensation or public disability payment increases or decreases. Any change in the amount or frequency of these benefits is likely to affect the amount of your Social Security benefits.
An unexpected change in benefits can have unintended consequences. You can be better prepared if you’re informed and have financially prepared yourself. Visit our benefits planner for information about your options for securing your future.
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About the Author
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
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Vince v.
I have tourretes syndrome,have athritis,have heart problem.please don t take my social security away.
Brenda
There were times when I had to go on disability for surgery because I was hit by a car when I was 14 . There were jobs I couldn’t do because I couldn’t stand for long periods of time. I now collect ssd
I’m 50 years old
I get 707 a month after they take out for Medicare . I can’t afford to live . Is there anything you can do to help me ?
MARIE
Hi Brenda you may need to go to your State Assistance Program called QMB (qualified medical benefits) where the state will pay for your medicare benefits and stop taking it out of your check ..if you qualify and it certainly seems that you do by your income…also that may assist you with Medicaid and other services you may qualify for to help you to keep your money in your pocket
Sandra t.
Need help was on workmans comp it stopped 3yrs. Ago. N I’m on disabilty I had to wait 5 yrs. For my case ended. Told sad. N sent papers n still haven’t received back money they owe me. Just wondering if you know what else I can do. Thank you for listening
Ann C.
Hi, Sandra. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Sveatch
I receive both veterans disability and social security disability. Every time I get a cost of living increase in my veterans pay, social security decreases the amount of my ssi. I just dont understand why they will not allow me the cost of living increase.
patty
SSI is welfare and needs-based. Changes to income have a direct effect. You do get COLA’s on your SSI, however.
Dr. N.
I would like my social security payments to be made direct deposit into my bank account in the city I live.
Whom do I write to?
N. Krishnamurthy
vacnk@yahoo.com
Mary L.
When you apply for your benefits, they ask you for your banking information. They only do direct deposit.
Ann C.
Hi. If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability, you can create a personal my Social Security account to change your direct deposit information online. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you should contact your local office immediately. We hope this helps.
mark
I Mark O’Connell 1955 Childhood born with both ears hearing loss with speach problems with cause impeachment along hearing impairment, in Year the (September /11 /2001 attack )global wide drop jobs in Hawaii as well was working full time with paying bills and medical , reached for social security Administration got involved SSI benefit since year 2003 & continuously 2020 retirement 7/6/2020???? How will it fact my retirement??
Ann C.
Hi, Mark. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Joy
After 3 years I finally won my Disability case and you bet they are keeping a big chunk out of my back pay they legally owe me.It had nothing to do with SS cause it was a privately owned company where I worked.Basically I’m giving my back pay to SS..
Diana J.
My ex husband was on disability when he was killed in car accident. How would i find out if i qualify for his social security benefits? I have been disabled for years. I could use the help.
Tanya R.
Mrs. Wilson,
If you’re 50 or older when Mr. Wilson died, you would be eligible for disabled widow’s benefits (as a surviving divorced wife). You needed to have been married for at least 10 years. If you have earnings of your own and are currently receiving Title II Disability Insurance Benefits, we would compare your benefit with your former husband’s Title II benefit. If yours is equal to or larger, no additional benefits are payable. If yours is smaller, you would continue to receive yours plus 71.5% of the difference between the two. Hope that helps.
Ann C.
Hi, Diana. If your marriage lasted for at least 10 years, you may be eligible for surviving divorced spouse benefits based on your ex-husband’s earnings, beginning at age 60. If you are disabled, you could begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if the disability started before or within 7 years of your ex-husband’s death. For additional information on Survivor benefits, check out our Survivors Planner. For specific questions, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Mr T.
My claim overseas in Thailand by app ssa_7161 ,7162 claim to ssa department responsibility issued pay ! Now
Rodriguez
Honesty, I dont know why worker’s compensation would affect your disability when Social Security Administration does not recognize the injury that your rated on through Workers Compensation. Every knows that if you apply for disability having a major work related injury your told that you must apply for SSA and then go to there designated physicians to determine your disability. Its a broken system that needs a revamp for an injured worker.