If you’re injured and unable to work, there are
several state, federal, and private benefit programs that may be available to
help you. However, navigating and differentiating these programs can be
difficult, especially when you’re injured and in pain. And the fact that
many of these very different programs sound nearly identical (e.g. SSDI, SSI,
and SDI) only make it harder. My goal here is to provide some of the most
common programs, explain broadly the differences between them, and discuss their
requirements in general. Please note that all of these programs are
complicated, and you are best to seek legal assistance when determining which
programs are available to you.
Social security disability is the name for two
similar federal programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For both of these programs, you must
show that you are unable to work for 12 months or more. SSDI also
requires that you have paid into the Social Security system, and that your
injury occurs while you are still “covered” by that system. If
you are approved for SSDI benefits, then you should begin to receive your full
retirement amount from around the date of your disability, subject to some
certain restrictions. Even if you haven’t paid into the Social Security
system, you may still be eligible for SSI. SSI requires that you have
limited assets, as calculated by the Social Security Administration. If
you approved for SSI benefits, you will receive a monthly payment (for 2019,
this payment, for an individual, is $771.00).
similar federal programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For both of these programs, you must
show that you are unable to work for 12 months or more. SSDI also
requires that you have paid into the Social Security system, and that your
injury occurs while you are still “covered” by that system. If
you are approved for SSDI benefits, then you should begin to receive your full
retirement amount from around the date of your disability, subject to some
certain restrictions. Even if you haven’t paid into the Social Security
system, you may still be eligible for SSI. SSI requires that you have
limited assets, as calculated by the Social Security Administration. If
you approved for SSI benefits, you will receive a monthly payment (for 2019,
this payment, for an individual, is $771.00).
State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a state
(California) program, run by the state Employment Development Department (EDD)
that provides temporary benefits for persons unable to work due to an illness
or injury (it also provides some benefits for maternity leave). These
benefits typically, but not always last for one year. In order to qualify
for SDI, you generally must get certification from your qualified health care
provider regarding your diagnoses, recovery time, etc. EDD also runs a
similar program for those persons unable to work not because they are injured,
but because they can’t find a job: unemployment.
(California) program, run by the state Employment Development Department (EDD)
that provides temporary benefits for persons unable to work due to an illness
or injury (it also provides some benefits for maternity leave). These
benefits typically, but not always last for one year. In order to qualify
for SDI, you generally must get certification from your qualified health care
provider regarding your diagnoses, recovery time, etc. EDD also runs a
similar program for those persons unable to work not because they are injured,
but because they can’t find a job: unemployment.
Workers’ compensation is another program that
can provide benefits if you are injured at work. These benefits can
include medical treatment, payments for lost wages, and lump sum payments for
future medical care. Some of these benefits can be referred to as total
or partial disability, which should not be confused with State Disability
Insurance, or Social Security Disability. The workers’ compensation
system can be difficult to navigate, and legal assistance is recommended.
can provide benefits if you are injured at work. These benefits can
include medical treatment, payments for lost wages, and lump sum payments for
future medical care. Some of these benefits can be referred to as total
or partial disability, which should not be confused with State Disability
Insurance, or Social Security Disability. The workers’ compensation
system can be difficult to navigate, and legal assistance is recommended.
There are also private long term and short-term
disability programs, that you may have enrolled in yourself, or have been
enrolled in by your employer. Again, although these programs are
disability programs, they are distinct from the government and administrative
programs described above. The benefits provided by these programs vary,
and you can get more information about any programs that you may be eligible
for from the program administrator or your human resources department.
disability programs, that you may have enrolled in yourself, or have been
enrolled in by your employer. Again, although these programs are
disability programs, they are distinct from the government and administrative
programs described above. The benefits provided by these programs vary,
and you can get more information about any programs that you may be eligible
for from the program administrator or your human resources department.
Often, you may be eligible for more than one of
these programs. It’s not uncommon for someone hurt at work to receive
workers’ compensation benefits, state disability benefits, and social security
benefits. However, these programs can interact with each other in
complicated ways, and may even affect the payments that each program pays to
you. For this reason, and others, it is always a good idea to seek legal
assistance when dealing with these programs.
these programs. It’s not uncommon for someone hurt at work to receive
workers’ compensation benefits, state disability benefits, and social security
benefits. However, these programs can interact with each other in
complicated ways, and may even affect the payments that each program pays to
you. For this reason, and others, it is always a good idea to seek legal
assistance when dealing with these programs.
