You can apply for Social Security Disability benefits if you are injured at work. However, you will need to meet certain requirements to be eligible.
Accidents at work can happen, but not all employers have Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Or, the Workers’ Comp that you are eligible for after being injured at work may not be enough to cover living expenses.
Most states require an employer to have worker’s compensation insurance, but not all employers follow those rules. This can leave you in a tough spot when you are injured and your medical bills and expenses are growing. An option is to apply for Social Security Disability benefits.
If you qualify for Social Security benefits, you will receive money based on your average lifetime earnings before your injury and not the severity of your disability. Let’s examine the type of accidents that could qualify you.
Types of Workplace Accidents That May Qualify for Benefits
Common accidents that happen at the workplace that could lead to disability include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Fall from Scaffoldings
- Vehicle Accidents
- Falling Object accidents
- Accidental Exposure to Dangerous Chemicals
Others injuries can be caused by repetitive motions or constant exposure to certain elements such as extremely loud noises.
Disabilities Recognized by The SSA
Some of the conditions recognized by the Social Security Administration are so severe that they automatically classify the individual as disabled. These include:
- Amputation
- Fractures
- Soft Tissue Injuries such as sprains and strains
- Chronic Joint pain and stiffness
- Hearing Loss
Even if your condition is not listed, you could still qualify for Social Security Benefits.
Requirements to be Eligible for Disability Benefits
To be eligible to apply for Social Security Benefits, you will need to be between the ages of 18 and 65. You will also need to have enough work credits and be disabled.
You must also show that you are unable to perform any work which you have previously done — or could be trained for — and that your disability will last over one year.
Social Security and Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you are fortunate enough to receive workers’ compensation benefits you can also receive Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Administration may adjust the amount they pay, based on how much you are receiving from workers’ compensation. However, you cannot receive more than 80 percent of your original earnings with both workers’ compensation and Social Security benefits.
Apply for Social Security Benefits
Applying for Social Security benefits isn’t easy. If filled out incorrectly, your application could be delayed or even rejected. In fact, the Social Security Administration rejects 67 percent of all disability claims on the first application. This means that only one in three people who apply for disability benefits will receive funds in their first application.
We can help! At Disability Apply, our Social Security Disability benefits experts will help you file your claim and assist you through this process. Contact us today to see if you qualify. We can help you if you are injured at work and need guidance on how to cover living expenses.