Can I collect Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) for a work injury?
If the injury is serious enough to cause disability lasting at least 12 months, you may be able to obtain Social Security disability benefits. Social Security pays approximately 80% of your pre-disability average income. Workers’ compensation benefits are typically only two-thirds of your average income. However, Social Security takes a credit or offset for the worker’s compensation benefits, so you can not obtain a combined benefit from Social Security and workers’ compensation in excess of 80% of your pre-disability income. Qualifying for SSDI also makes you eligible for Medicare. We generally advise our clients to apply for SSDI in serious injury cases, and then if the claim is denied, we can file an appeal for you.
