In an earlier post we addressed the general question of what benefits other than Iowa workers’ compensation may be available to you if you suffer a work-related injury or occupational disease. Two examples we looked at were Social Security disability benefits and Veterans’ benefits. This post will consider Social Security benefits in more detail.
It can be tempting to see the ability to collect disability benefits from multiple sources as an unalloyed good. For example, you were earning $5,000 monthly before you were injured, and your Social Security disability and workers’ compensation benefits taken together would amount to more than that sum, then at first blush your injury or illness might seem to work in your favor. But “double-dipping” is not something that the Social Security Administration is willing to countenance, so it has implemented regulations to reduce its effect when disability benefits are combined with workers’ compensation.
These regulations have the effect of capping the maximum combined benefit amount you can receive from Social Security disability and workers’ compensation to not more than 80 percent of what you were making before your injury. If the combined benefit would be more than 80 percent, then your Social Security benefits will be slashed until your total benefit does not exceed the limit.
As we indicated earlier, if you are disabled by a work accident or illness you should consider all possible sources of benefits, and be able to understand how these benefits combine. Although Social Security has restrictions in place when it comes to combining with workers’ compensation, not all other benefit sources may be subject to the same or similar limitations. A law firm that has experience with workers’ compensation and other benefits law can help you to gain the most benefits possible.