Can I Receive Both Worker’s Compensation and Disability Benefits?

Most employers in Florida are required to provide workers’ compensation for employees hurt at work. If you have been hurt at work, your injuries may range from minor to catastrophic. Injured workers may need to apply for disability benefits if they can no longer work because of their conditions. 

Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Orlando

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that employers buy to protect their employees. The policies pay for the employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they get at hurt at work. If they have a disability due to an injury at work and meet all other requirements, then they can receive Social Security Disability benefits at the same time as workers’ comp.

During a workers’ comp case, the injured worker is assigned an impairment rating by a doctor in order to determine the level of benefits they can claim. Florida’s system pays long-term benefits for workers who are dealing with:

• Severe injuries
• Conditions
• Disabilities 

However helpful the workers’ compensation system is, it may not provide the full benefits that a person needs if they can’t go back to work. If this is the case, you may be able to claim more benefits through a disability policy. Whether through SSD, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or private disability policies, it is important to consider all of your options for benefits.

How do I Qualify for Both Benefits?

If you have a private disability insurance policy, review the terms of the contract in order to determine how to qualify. The government disability programs, such as Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), require that a person:

• Have a physical and/or mental condition that prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activity
• Have a condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
• Be under age 65

To qualify for workers’ comp, a person must have been injured:

• Within the scope of their employment, such as doing routine tasks or assignments
• At their job, not during travel to or from their place of business on their personal time
• While not deviating from employment (such as playing jokes or leaving on company time)

If you meet these criteria, call an experienced disability attorney immediately to ensure that you get all possible benefits for your disabling injuries. They can monitor your case and determine the precise moment you qualify for benefits, as well as assist in the application process and pursue an appeal if your claim is denied.