Workers' compensation settlements may cause a reduction in social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, this will only take place when a person's workers' compensation settlement and SSDI payments combine to form a total that's higher than 80% of the person's average current earnings (ACE) prior to collecting disability. In some states (not in Iowa), a person may receive reduced workers' compensation payments as opposed to reduced SSDI benefits.
After a workplace injury, victims may wonder, "does a workers' compensation settlement affect social security disability?" To understand more about how workers' compensation affects SSDI payments and vice versa, it's important to know how each works.
How Workers' Compensation Works
Workers' compensation is a system that provides workers with benefits if they sustain work-related injuries or illnesses. These benefits help cover medical care and lost wages to an extent based on the nature of the damages sustained and the initial accident. If workers suffer from lasting physical damage after healing from injuries, they may qualify to receive permanent disability benefits.
Prior to the introduction of the Iowa's Workers' Compensation Act, workers could only file a tort suit against employers that would require them to prove that their employer's negligence was directly responsible for the injuries sustained. In these cases, workers frequently never recovered compensation, while individuals who managed to recover damages often needed to pay large costs and saw delays in receiving compensation. The implementation of workers' comp changed this, enabling injured workers to quickly recover compensation regardless of who was at fault. Employers also benefited from the introduction of workers' comp, as they saw limited liability and employees waived their right to sue employers.
Each state is responsible for administering workers' compensation programs, which vary depending on a number of factors. For example, programs may depend on the types of illnesses or injuries experienced, permissions around providing insurance, and benefits that employees receive. Iowa has a very good system that provides some of the better benefits in the country.
The Length of Workers' Comp Benefits in Iowa
Injured employees may wonder how long their benefits will last in Iowa after a work-related accident. So, how long do workers' compensation benefits last in Iowa, exactly?
According to Iowa law, employees can receive weekly workers' compensation benefits until they return to work or up to 30 days after the employer indicates that benefits will end. In some cases, workers may be able to reinstate their benefits. These benefits are referred to as healing period benefits or temporary total disability benefits.
If a worker receives notice from their employer that benefits will soon end, the employer must provide an explanation along with details about how individuals can file claims with the Workers' Compensation Commissioner.
Can I Get Disability After a Workers' Comp Settlement?
Eligibility for Permanent Disability Benefits
In addition to workers' compensation benefits, disabled workers can in some instances receive Medicare and federal Social Security Disability Insurance to cover medical expenses and lost earning capacity.
There are key differences between workers' compensation and permanent disability to keep in mind. Although workers qualify for workers' compensation benefits starting with their first day on the job, the only individuals who qualify for SSDI are those with a long work history.
Workers' compensation benefits cover short- and long-term disabilities along with partial or total disabilities, all of which the employee must have sustained due to work-related incidents. Meanwhile, the government only pays SSDI benefits to employees who have long-term disabilities that limit their ability to work, regardless of whether the disability developed due to a work-related incident.
Individuals only qualify for SSDI benefits if they are unable to earn gainful employment due to a physical or mental disability that's expected to last a year or longer or result in the person's death. Additionally, the disability must be severe enough to prevent the worker from performing the type of work they did pre-disability along with any other type of gainful activity.
Generally, SSDI benefits start following a five-month waiting period.
Determining Permanent Disability
The specific rules for determining permanent disability depending on the state. Typically, doctors will indicate whether patients have a lasting medical condition or loss of function known as an impairment that resulted from a job-related injury or illness.
In addition to a doctor's statement and diagnosis, insurance companies may also want the individual to undergo an independent medical examination (IME) to determine how injuries or illnesses have impaired them. Individuals may also request an IME if they would like a second medical opinion if they disagree with their doctor's assessment. In Iowa, under most circumstances, an employee can obtain an IME at the employers expense.
In most cases, this process will end with the individual receiving a permanent disability rating in the form of a percentage. It's important to keep in mind that individuals don't necessarily need to prove that they're entirely unable to work to receive total permanent disability benefits. For example, some workers who lost multiple limbs or other body parts may qualify if these injuries severely impact their ability to work. Individuals may also qualify if they sustained injuries that collectively account for a 100% disability rating.
Does a Workers' Compensation Settlement Affect Social Security Disability?
Today, individuals may have their disability benefits reduced if they're receiving workers' compensation benefits at the same time. This concept known as offset was originally included in the 1956 Social Security disability program. The government then eliminated it in 1958 only to reinstitute it in the 1965 Social Security Amendments.
The goal of introducing this offset was to make sure that the total amount of workers' comp and SSDI benefits doesn't go over 80% of an employee's current average earnings. However, the combined payments following the reduction must not be less than the amount of SSDI benefits prior to the reduction.
The definition of average current earnings is as any of the following:
- The highest average monthly wage that the unindexed disability primary insurance amount takes into account.
- The highest average monthly earnings during the calendar year of the highest earnings received during covered employment over the five years ending with the year when disability payments started.
- The highest of the monthly earnings received via covered employment or self-employment over the last five years.
Specifically, the offset of SSDI benefits applies to workers with disabilities who are under the age of 65, along with their families. Prior to the application of the offset to the worker's benefits, the offset will apply to benefits for dependent children or spouses.
How to Minimize Offset for SSDI Benefits
Rules pertaining to SSDI benefits and workers' compensation offset enable workers to minimize the amount of payments that the government may reduce. The following are some of the ways in which workers may be able to maximize the amount of benefits they'll be able to receive.
Expense Exclusions
Prior to calculating a gross workers' compensation settlement total, SSDI will deduct any legal fees, rehabilitation costs, and dependent payments. In addition, the government will exclude any past or future medical expenses, except for those that fall under Medicare payments. Social Security will then request documentation of the different expenses that individuals would like to deduct from their workers' compensation settlement. This is why it's important for employees to maintain these documents as well as they can.
If Medicare covers an employee and the worker uses a large amount of workers' comp payments to help cover future medical expenses, Medicare may cease payment until those funds are spent.
Converting a Lump-Sum Settlement into Multiple Payments
When an individual receives a lump-sum workers' compensation settlement, workers can reduce the offset of SSDI benefits by stating that they intend to spread this payment out to ensure it lasts for the rest of the individual's life. Doing so may not only significantly reduce the offset but may eliminate it.
For instance, if a 50-year-old worker receives a total of $20,000 via workers' compensation, and the individual is expected to live for another 35 years, SSDI may divide the amount by the number of months (420) to determine how much to pay every month. While the worker still receives the payment in the form of a lump sum, Social Security would consider the amount as a total of 420 months of payment.
If the worker also gets $1,500 in SSDI payments, totaling $1,976 per month, the benefits wouldn't be offset unless the total accounted for 80% of the recipient's average current earnings.
Individuals will need to include an "amortization provision" in their workers' comp settlement agreement to qualify for consideration of a lump sum as monthly payments. This provision must appear in the original settlement documents, as adding them to a current settlement is strictly prohibited and Social Security will consider this an attempt to avoid offset.
Does Workers' Comp Affect Social Security Retirement Benefits?
Certain federal circuits have ruled that worker's compensation settlements are only applicable to a person's working life as opposed to their entire life. Some attorneys may attempt to bypass this restriction by drafting settlement documents to show that the workers' comp settlement amount is pro-rated until the date when the recipient reaches the age of full retirement. Attorneys may also use the workers' comp settlement's annuities.
Workers' shouldn't confuse lump-sum settlements with the payments made to cover past-due benefits. Through settlement agreements, claimants waive the liability of insurance companies or employers for future workers' comp benefits and medical expenses in exchange for a lump sum or another type of cash settlement.
If a case winds up going to trial, the decision that the judge makes pertaining to a worker's case won't involve lifetime amortization. Instead, individuals will have the permanent disability rating as detailed in the award, which will keep them from using amortization to prevent the offset of Social Security benefits.
Opting for Social Security Retirement Benefits
If an individual receives Social Security retirement benefits, the workers' compensation offset won't apply. If a person is nearing the age of 62 and wants to avoid the offset of workers' comp, they should consider filing for early retirement. It's worth noting that retiring early will lead to a reduced monthly Social Security payment, which is why it's often best to consult with a workers' compensation lawyer or the person's local Social Security offices to determine if it's best to retire early.
Understanding how a workers' compensation settlement may affect Social Security Disability payments can help determine which steps to take to minimize or eliminate the offset of benefits. As a result, individuals can increase their chances of maximizing their workers' compensation and SSDI benefits to receive full coverage.
FAQs About Workers' Compensation Settlements and Social Security Disability
Can I get Social Security Disability after a workers’ compensation settlement?
In the United States there are programs that provide different types of disability benefits under certain conditions and situations. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs provide assistance to people with disabilities. The SSDI program pays benefits to individuals and certain family members if you have worked long enough and recently enough to be covered as an insured under the Social Security program. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources and who are not considered insured under the program. Although these two programs are separate and distinct, the medical requirements to qualify for the programs are the same.
Even though someone may be pursing workers’ compensation benefits or have a disability associated with a workers’ compensation injury, they still are eligible to pursue SSDI or SSI benefits. The standard for receipt of SSDI or SSI benefits are different than the standards for proving disability under the Iowa Workers’ Compensation laws.
To apply for SSDI or SSI, you are required to complete and submit an application to the Social Security Administration either online, by phone, or in-person. The Social Security Administration will then determine which of the programs you may qualify for and determine whether you are disabled under their rules and entitled to benefits. This process takes a considerable amount of time and in many occasions, results in the need to appeal a denial of Social Security benefits.
With respect to the interplay between Social Security Disability benefits and workers’ compensation benefits, it should be noted that if a worker receives weekly workers’ compensation benefits or a lump sum workers’ compensation settlement, the workers’ compensation benefits can reduce the amount of Social Security Disability benefits that are received. Under federal law, a person is only entitled to receive up to 80% of what is termed “average current earnings” from Social Security Disability and workers’ compensation benefits. If the workers’ compensation benefits are too high, this can result in a reduction to the Social Security Disability benefits. A settlement of a workers’ compensation case can sometimes avoid that reduction by spreading the workers’ compensation settlement out over the claimant’s life. Most workers’ compensation attorneys will be familiar with what is called “spread language” to minimize the impact of a workers’ compensation settlement on Social Security Disability benefits. For that reason, it’s important to discuss your intention to file for Social Security Disability benefits with your Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer.
How does a lump sum settlement affect Social Security Disability?
Disability payments from a private pension or a private insurance company does not affect Social Security Disability (SSD) insurance benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits can reduce Social Security Disability benefits. If you receive workers’ compensation benefits through a state workers’ compensation program, these benefits can impact the amount a person will receive from Social Security Disability. If you receive workers’ compensation benefits or other public disability benefits, and Social Security Disability benefits, the total amount of these benefits cannot exceed 80% of your average current earnings before you became disabled. The average current earnings (ACE) is a Social Security calculation that is based upon your earnings record with the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration will be able to give you that number. If the total amount you can receive is 80% of your average current earnings, if your workers’ compensation benefits plus your Social Security Disability benefit exceed 80% of your average current earnings, your Social Security Disability benefit is reduced.
For example, if your average current earnings were $4,000 a month, the most you could receive form Social Security Disability and workers’ compensation benefits, would be $3,200 a month. Your Social Security Disability would be reduced if you are above that figure.
A reduction in your Social Security Disability typically occurs if you receive weekly workers’ compensation benefits. If you settle your workers’ compensation case there are ways that language can be used in the settlement documents to avoid some or all of the Social Security Disability reduction. In many cases there is a good reason to settle the workers’ compensation case for a lump sum in order to avoid the Social Security reduction. In order to evaluate how weekly benefits or a lump sum settlement impacts Social Security Disability benefits, it is important to talk to you an experienced Iowa workers’ compensation attorney.
