Did you know that you can apply for workers’ compensation and Social Security disability income (SSDI) at the same time? However, if you do so, you will only be approved for SSDI for impairments severe enough to prevent you from doing substantial work for a year or more.
If you face a significant disability that prevents you from working long-term, discuss your options with a local workers’ compensation lawyer specializing in Social Security. This article will explain how having an attorney knowledgeable of both legal areas can prove beneficial.
How an “Offset” May Lower Your Payments
Workers’ compensation and Social Security are separate, independent programs. However, what you collect from one program can influence your payout from the other. More specifically, the Social Security Administration may lower your SSDI payments by the amount of any workers’ comp benefits you’re currently collecting. The legal term for this deduction is an “offset.”
Paying your bills can be difficult when you’ve been seriously injured at work. If you depend on SSDI to help make ends meet, you cannot afford to lose out on much-needed funds. When you file your workers’ comp claim may affect the amount of SSDI benefits you can still collect. To protect the compensation you need and deserve, applying for both programs requires a keen sense of timing.
Before you file any paperwork for your workplace injury or illness, you should consult a workers’ compensation lawyer who also specializes in Social Security. Many attorneys specialize in just one or the other, and they may be able to advise you on timing issues. However, it is better to work with a lawyer who does both. They are more familiar with the nuances of both types of legal issues and can provide guidance that helps you retain as much compensation as possible.
Find a Lawyer Who Understands Disability and Work-Related Injury Law in Cincinnati
Our legal team at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co., specializes in workers’ comp, but we also have experience in SSDI. We can help you with both claims and the timing issues involved in filing them. We have been helping workers and their families gain economic justice and security in the Cincinnati area since 1988.
Begin your journey to peace of mind with a free consultation. Contact us today by calling 513.721.6500 or using the contact form on our website.