Receiving Workers’ Comp and Social Security Disability Benefits in NJ
Obtaining the full range of benefits that you are entitled to in New Jersey requires considerable effort. And if these include both workers’ compensation and social security disability benefits, you should expect to encounter additional challenges. If you were injured on the job and are no longer able to work, you need an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Matarazzo & Lubcher in Cherry Hill backing you up.
Workers’ Compensation Helps Employees Injured on the Job in Cherry Hill
Most employers in New Jersey are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance on all their employees. Suppose you are injured at work or suffer a work-related illness. In that case, you will turn to workers’ compensation to cover your necessary medical expenses and a specific percentage of your lost wages. If you suffer an injury that keeps you off the job permanently, you are entitled to more comprehensive benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance Provides Federal Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits provide financial assistance to those who have suffered long-term debilitating injuries or illnesses that end their ability to work. SSDI does not focus on workplace injuries or illnesses the way workers’ compensation does. Instead, SSDI covers any disability that qualifies – regardless of the cause.
There are, however, requirements that apply:
- You must have worked the amount of time necessary to qualify and must have paid into the Social Security system in the process.
- Your disability must meet the disability criteria of being unable to perform any substantial gainful activity (SGA), and it must be expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death.
- You must earn less than the SGA threshold, which is set at a specific amount that is adjusted regularly and is considerably higher for those who are blind.
You Can Receive Both Workers’ Comp and SSDI Benefits
While you can potentially receive both workers’ comp and SSDI benefits, limitations apply, and there are legal intricacies involved. To begin, you must meet the eligibility requirements for each program separately.
If you do receive both, there are federal limits that apply to your combined benefits. This means that the amount that you receive in SSDI can be reduced by what is known as an offset to keep you within the set earnings limitation.
The basics include that the federal government caps your overall earnings at 80 percent of your average earnings at the time you were disabled. If your workers’ compensation benefits and your SSDI benefits combined exceed this limit, your SSDI benefits will be reduced accordingly.
Turn to Our Experienced Cherry Hill Workers’ Comp Lawyers for the Help You Need
The dedicated Cherry Hill workers’ compensation attorneys at Matarazzo & Lubcher will leave no stone unturned in our determined efforts to obtain the full range of benefits to which you are entitled, which may include both workers’ comp and SSDI. Contact us online or call 856-460-5805 for more information today.