Will Private Disability Payments Through My Employer Affect My SSDI Benefits?
Many individuals who plan to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may also be planning to seek private disability benefits that they are eligible to receive through an employer. Under such circumstances, it is important to understand whether outside disability benefits can impact eligibility for SSDI benefits or the total amount of SSDI payments received. In short, private disability benefits should not affect SSDI benefits, but you should always discuss the specifics of your situation with a national disability benefits attorney before you make assumptions. In the meantime, we can tell you more about the relationship between private disability benefits and SSDI eligibility and payments.
Private Disability Benefits Through Your Employer Will Not Affect SSDI
If you were seriously injured or recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires time away from work, you may be eligible for a private pension or private disability insurance benefits through your employer. Regardless of what these private options can pay you, such payments will not affect your eligibility for SSDI or the total amount of SSDI benefits you receive. In short, the two — private benefits and SSDI benefits — are entirely separate.
You should keep in mind that the two types of benefits are indeed entirely separate, including in eligibility. In other words, just because you are eligible for private disability payments through your employer, for example, will not necessarily mean that you are eligible for SSDI benefits. Many private benefits have requirements for eligibility that are less strict than those for SSDI. In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, you must meet the employment component (you must have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify), and you must also meet the medical component (you must have a medical condition that is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death, and it must be severe enough that it prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity).
Public Benefits Can Impact SSDI
While private disability benefits will not affect eligibility for or the amount of SSDI payments, it is important for you to know that any type of public benefits could reduce the amount of your SSDI payments. To be clear, receiving public benefits will not impact your eligibility for SSDI, but the amount of your SSDI payment could be affected.
Workers’ compensation is a common type of public benefit that people receive when they are unable to work, and which can ultimately reduce the amount of a person’s SSDI payment.
Contact Our National SSDI Benefits Attorneys Today for Assistance
If you have sustained an injury or been diagnosed with a medical condition that will leave you unable to work, it is important to discuss your SSDI eligibility with an attorney who can help. While private disability payments typically will not impact your SSDI payments, it is still critical to discuss the details of your situation, and any other payments or benefits you receive, with one of the experienced national SSDI benefits lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. We can help you to understand your SSDI eligibility and likely payment amount, and we can assist you in applying for benefits as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Contact our firm today for more information.
Source:
ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10018.pdf
