When you fall victim to a workplace injury, you can file for workers’ compensation and get paid for the treatment of your injuries. If your injuries have caused you to acquire a disability that prevents you from working, you may qualify for disability benefits. A situation like this may lead one to think about whether they can receive both workers’ compensation and social security benefits simultaneously.
While both workers’ compensation and SSD can compensate you for your injuries, there are different sets of qualifications for them. Someone who qualifies for workers’ compensation may not be qualified for SSD benefits. If you need to discuss an offered claim or need help in crafting a complaint, you can seek help from a workers’ compensation lawyer in Virginia Beach.
Can you get workers’ compensation and disability benefits at the same time?
You can receive both the benefits, but only if you qualify for them. While these terms may sometimes be used interchangeably, there are quite a few differences in their qualifications. The workers’ compensation and SSDI are different programs. The former is run by your home state, and the latter by the Social Security Administration (SSA). To understand their differences, let us first discuss what they mean.
How does workers’ compensation work?
In America, employers are required to purchase insurance for each of their employees. This insurance is to be used when an employee suffers an injury in the workplace. The workers’ comp covers an employee from the first day they start working for the employer.
After getting injured, you can file a claim with your employer, who then informs the insurance company. This compensation amount pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, additional treatments in the future, and the funeral cost if any.
How does SSDI work?
SSD is a federal program. If you have worked a job for a certain amount of time, a portion of your paycheck is directly paid into SSD. The government has taken this initiative to provide an income to disabled people if they can no longer work. You must have acquired a disability to receive benefits. In cases of minor injuries, you would not get paid.
Generally, the SSA only pays people who cannot work for at least a year or more or for injuries that result in death. These benefits usually continue until you can return to work.
Unlike workers’ compensation, you do not need to get injured at work to qualify for SSD benefits. However, you do need to have worked a job to receive these benefits. This is because the disability amount is an accumulation of work credits that you earn by working a job.
