If you cannot work due to a disability, you may have various options for receiving monthly disability benefits. If you are disabled, you may find yourself wondering – can I collect disability from a private source, or even from another public program, and from the Social Security Administration at the same time? This is an understandable question to ask. Let’s take a closer look together.
What is the Difference Between Social Security Disability and Long-Term Disability Benefits?
The Social Security Administration generally provides two types of disability benefits:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits: These are benefits that the Social Security Administration pays to individuals who have a qualifying disability that has caused them to be unable to work for a period of at least one continuous calendar year or more. In addition, recipients must be “insured.” This means that they worked a job through which they regularly paid a portion of their salary to the Social Security Administration for a sufficient length of time.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits: As with SSDI benefits, those who receive SSI benefits must have a qualifying disability that has caused them to be unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more. Unlike with SSDI benefits, however, individuals need not be insured to receive SSI benefits. They do, however, need to have income and resources below a certain level established by the Social Security Administration.
While the government pays Social Security benefits, LTD benefits are paid by private insurers. Individuals can obtain LTD benefits through their employer or by purchasing their own policy. These benefits are typically calculated based on a percentage of the individual’s monthly salary and will typically last for an amount of time agreed upon at the time the policy is purchased.
Will the Amount of Long-Term Disability Benefits I Receive Lower My SSDI Payments?
As a general rule, a disabled person can collect both SSDI benefits and LTD benefits. In fact, many long-term disability insurance providers require recipients to apply for Social Security disability benefits as well in order to receive LTD benefits. There is usually a specific clause in the policy that mandates that beneficiaries apply for Social Security disability benefits within a certain time frame.
Those who apply for and receive SSDI benefits will usually still be able to receive long-term disability benefits as well – but there will typically be an offset. In most cases, the insurer will offset the amount of SSDI benefits from the amount of STD payments such that the total combination of the two will equal the LTD amount you would have received prior to qualifying for SSDI benefits.
For those receiving SSI, collecting both LTD benefits and SSI is possible. However, it’s important to understand that the amount of LTD benefits received will be counted as income for SSI purposes. As a result, many people who receive LTD benefits do not qualify for SSI benefits at the same time.
Sometimes, we are also asked about short-term disability benefits from private insurers. If you have a short-term disability plan, it is likely, by definition, intended for a period of less than a year. As a result, and because SSDI benefits are typically only paid for disabilities lasting a year or more, it is likely that the full amount of short-term disability benefits may already be paid out prior to approval for SSDI benefits.
What if I Receive Disability Benefits from Another Public Entity?
This is another commonly asked question. In some cases, an individual who qualifies for Social Security disability benefits may also be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits or some other sort of public disability benefit, like civil service disability benefits, temporary state disability benefits, and various others.
In these situations, the Social Security Administration may reduce the amount of benefits that are paid if the combined total of your Social Security disability benefits, added to any public disability you receive, exceeds 80% of your average earnings before you became disabled.
If you receive benefit payments from another public or government source, the best course of action is to contact an attorney who knows and understands the law and can advise you about your particular circumstances. At Liner Legal, we’re here to help.
Liner Legal – Here For You
At Liner Legal, we know that disability benefits are a vital source of financial support and stability for our clients. We understand that you want to do everything you can to maximize the amount of benefits you can receive, and to ensure that your benefits continue for as long as possible. That’s why our knowledgeable and experienced team of attorneys will always fight for you and pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. You deserve nothing less. Give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
