Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2008

Beneficiaries Who Have Filed for Workers' Compensation or Public Disability Benefits

Note

In December 2008, approximately 584,000 disabled workers on the Social Security Disability Insurance program had filed for workers' compensation or public disability benefits. Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits, do not affect Social Security disability benefits, but workers' compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce them. Workers' compensation is paid to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. It may be paid by federal or state workers' compensation agencies or employers or by insurance companies on behalf of employers.

Other public disability benefits that may affect Social Security disability benefits are those paid by a federal, state, or local government for disabling medical conditions that are not job related. Examples are civil service disability benefits, military disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits that are based on disability. Persons who receive Social Security disability benefits and one of the following types of public benefits will not have their Social Security disability benefit reduced:

Veterans Administration benefits;
State and local government benefits, if Social Security taxes were deducted from earnings; or
Supplemental Security Income.

The total amount received from workers' compensation or other public disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits cannot exceed 80 percent of the worker's average current earnings before he or she became disabled. The monthly Social Security disability benefit includes benefits payable to family members. If the total amount of these benefits exceeds 80 percent of average current earnings, the excess amount is deducted from the Social Security benefit. The benefit will be reduced until the month the worker reaches age 65 or the month the other benefits stop, whichever comes first.

Example

Before becoming disabled, the worker's average current earnings were $4,000 a month. The disabled worker, his or her spouse, and their two children would be eligible to receive a total of $2,200 a month in Social Security disability benefits. However, the disabled worker also receives $2,000 a month from workers' compensation. Because the total amount of benefits received ($4,200) is more than $3,200 (80 percent of average current earnings), the family's Social Security disability benefits will be reduced by $1,000.

Chart 7. Distribution of workers, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2008

Among disabled workers who are also receiving workers' compensation or public disability benefits, a disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue was the primary diagnosis in December 2008. Mental disorders were the second leading disabling condition. A disorder of the nervous system and sense organs was the third most common disability for women. Injuries were the third most common disability for men. All other impairments were fairly evenly split between men and women.

Show as table

Table equivalent for Chart 7. Distribution of workers, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2008 (percent)
Diagnostic group	Men	Women
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases	1.8	3.0
Injuries	8.4	4.3
Mental disorders	17.8	23.2
Circulatory system	4.7	2.6
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	55.9	52.5
Nervous system and sense organs	4.8	7.6
All other impairments	6.6	6.8

SOURCE: Table 34.

Table 31. Distribution of workers and nondisabled dependents who have filed, by reason for having or not having an offset, December 2008
Reason	Total		Workers		Spouses and children
Reason	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and nondisabled dependents	766,439	100.0	583,923	100.0	182,516	100.0
	With offset
Receipt of—
Workers' compensation only
Black Lung	335	a	239	a	96	0.1
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen	790	0.1	565	0.1	225	0.1
Federal employees	3,392	0.4	2,562	0.4	830	0.5
State	139,113	18.2	92,992	15.9	46,121	25.3
Public disability only
Federal	2,380	0.3	2,033	0.3	347	0.2
State	15,460	2.0	11,742	2.0	3,718	2.0
Local	673	0.1	513	0.1	160	0.1
Workers' compensation and—
Federal public disability	31	a	25	a	6	a
State public disability	878	0.1	665	0.1	213	0.1
Local public disability	16	a	12	a	4	a
Social Security Disability Insurance (Reverse Offset)	57,709	7.5	44,748	7.7	12,961	7.1
	Without offset
High average current earnings	360,615	47.1	287,213	49.2	73,402	40.2
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending	185,047	24.1	140,614	24.1	44,433	24.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
a. Less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: Kevin Kulzer (410) 965-5366 or di.asr@ssa.gov.

Table 32. Distribution of workers and nondisabled dependents who have filed, by state or other area of residence, December 2008
State or area	Total		Workers		Spouses and children
State or area	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
All areas	766,439	100.0	583,923	100.0	182,516	100.0
Alabama	14,228	1.9	10,613	1.8	3,615	2.0
Alaska	703	0.1	539	0.1	164	0.1
Arizona	10,593	1.4	8,281	1.4	2,312	1.3
Arkansas	7,436	1.0	5,634	1.0	1,802	1.0
California	125,315	16.4	99,646	17.1	25,669	14.1
Colorado	9,870	1.3	7,798	1.3	2,072	1.1
Connecticut	6,258	0.8	4,632	0.8	1,626	0.9
Delaware	2,129	0.3	1,606	0.3	523	0.3
District of Columbia	362	a	315	0.1	47	a
Florida	40,657	5.3	31,512	5.4	9,145	5.0
Georgia	21,453	2.8	16,476	2.8	4,977	2.7
Hawaii	2,334	0.3	1,784	0.3	550	0.3
Idaho	2,652	0.3	2,082	0.4	570	0.3
Illinois	17,997	2.3	13,331	2.3	4,666	2.6
Indiana	5,667	0.7	4,245	0.7	1,422	0.8
Iowa	4,091	0.5	3,108	0.5	983	0.5
Kansas	3,598	0.5	2,803	0.5	795	0.4
Kentucky	22,549	2.9	16,803	2.9	5,746	3.1
Louisiana	12,867	1.7	8,821	1.5	4,046	2.2
Maine	6,135	0.8	4,733	0.8	1,402	0.8
Maryland	5,744	0.7	4,493	0.8	1,251	0.7
Massachusetts	16,834	2.2	12,485	2.1	4,349	2.4
Michigan	35,030	4.6	26,964	4.6	8,066	4.4
Minnesota	6,672	0.9	5,328	0.9	1,344	0.7
Mississippi	7,680	1.0	5,582	1.0	2,098	1.1
Missouri	13,817	1.8	10,545	1.8	3,272	1.8
Montana	3,082	0.4	2,489	0.4	593	0.3
Nebraska	2,369	0.3	1,799	0.3	570	0.3
Nevada	4,475	0.6	3,615	0.6	860	0.5
New Hampshire	4,094	0.5	3,010	0.5	1,084	0.6
New Jersey	19,210	2.5	14,381	2.5	4,829	2.6
New Mexico	4,260	0.6	3,299	0.6	961	0.5
New York	89,248	11.6	65,154	11.2	24,094	13.2
North Carolina	20,279	2.6	15,586	2.7	4,693	2.6
North Dakota	1,072	0.1	798	0.1	274	0.2
Ohio	18,841	2.5	14,774	2.5	4,067	2.2
Oklahoma	8,803	1.1	6,893	1.2	1,910	1.0
Oregon	6,193	0.8	4,990	0.9	1,203	0.7
Pennsylvania	37,604	4.9	27,857	4.8	9,747	5.3
Rhode Island	3,390	0.4	2,716	0.5	674	0.4
South Carolina	12,950	1.7	9,745	1.7	3,205	1.8
South Dakota	1,073	0.1	811	0.1	262	0.1
Tennessee	13,658	1.8	10,555	1.8	3,103	1.7
Texas	20,308	2.6	15,076	2.6	5,232	2.9
Utah	2,230	0.3	1,623	0.3	607	0.3
Vermont	1,131	0.1	840	0.1	291	0.2
Virginia	12,728	1.7	9,567	1.6	3,161	1.7
Washington	12,063	1.6	9,689	1.7	2,374	1.3
West Virginia	11,032	1.4	8,469	1.5	2,563	1.4
Wisconsin	9,171	1.2	7,012	1.2	2,159	1.2
Wyoming	688	0.1	529	0.1	159	0.1
Outlying areas
Puerto Rico	41,836	5.5	31,198	5.3	10,638	5.8
Other ^b	317	a	175	a	142	0.1
Foreign countries	1,663	0.2	1,114	0.2	549	0.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: Distribution is by state or other area of residence, not by the state paying benefits.
a. Less than 0.05 percent.
b. Includes American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
CONTACT: Kevin Kulzer (410) 965-5366 or di.asr@ssa.gov.

Table 33. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and age, December 2008
Diagnostic group	Total, all ages	Under 35	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64
	Number
Total	583,923	10,005	18,684	41,245	78,932	121,451	154,621	158,985
Congenital anomalies	334	14	23	31	58	62	71	75
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases	13,142	98	234	669	1,496	2,716	3,808	4,121
Infectious and parasitic diseases	4,967	76	177	538	988	1,188	1,166	834
Injuries	39,812	1,588	1,956	3,389	5,550	7,799	9,368	10,162
Mental disorders
Retardation	6,516	190	323	771	1,219	1,507	1,349	1,157
Other	109,549	3,139	4,830	10,144	18,055	24,493	26,382	22,506
Neoplasms	6,408	200	211	374	792	1,308	1,723	1,800
Diseases of the—
Blood and blood-forming organs	440	35	17	35	71	92	101	89
Circulatory system	22,529	170	285	746	1,731	3,605	6,651	9,341
Digestive system	3,789	51	88	209	511	918	1,179	833
Genitourinary system	3,289	189	210	334	490	676	730	660
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	318,928	3,220	8,562	20,268	40,969	66,178	87,650	92,081
Nervous system and sense organs	34,553	828	1,354	2,791	4,866	7,045	8,878	8,791
Respiratory system	9,117	66	147	333	808	1,594	2,683	3,486
Skin and subcutaneous tissue	756	16	32	62	112	160	179	195
Other	687	19	22	50	94	172	171	159
Unknown	9,107	106	213	501	1,122	1,938	2,532	2,695
	Percent
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Congenital anomalies	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	a	a
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases	2.3	1.0	1.3	1.6	1.9	2.2	2.5	2.6
Infectious and parasitic diseases	0.9	0.8	0.9	1.3	1.3	1.0	0.8	0.5
Injuries	6.8	15.9	10.5	8.2	7.0	6.4	6.1	6.4
Mental disorders
Retardation	1.1	1.9	1.7	1.9	1.5	1.2	0.9	0.7
Other	18.8	31.4	25.9	24.6	22.9	20.2	17.1	14.2
Neoplasms	1.1	2.0	1.1	0.9	1.0	1.1	1.1	1.1
Diseases of the—
Blood and blood-forming organs	0.1	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Circulatory system	3.9	1.7	1.5	1.8	2.2	3.0	4.3	5.9
Digestive system	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.5
Genitourinary system	0.6	1.9	1.1	0.8	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	54.6	32.2	45.8	49.1	51.9	54.5	56.7	57.9
Nervous system and sense organs	5.9	8.3	7.2	6.8	6.2	5.8	5.7	5.5
Respiratory system	1.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	1.0	1.3	1.7	2.2
Skin and subcutaneous tissue	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Other	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Unknown	1.6	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.6	1.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
a. Less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: Kevin Kulzer (410) 965-5366 or di.asr@ssa.gov.

Table 34. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2008
Diagnostic group	Total		Men		Women
Diagnostic group	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
All disabled workers	583,923	100.0	356,004	100.0	227,919	100.0
Congenital anomalies	334	0.1	187	0.1	147	0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases	13,142	2.3	6,363	1.8	6,779	3.0
Infectious and parasitic diseases	4,967	0.9	4,010	1.1	957	0.4
Injuries	39,812	6.8	29,972	8.4	9,840	4.3
Mental disorders
Retardation	6,516	1.1	4,988	1.4	1,528	0.7
Other	109,549	18.8	58,211	16.4	51,338	22.5
Neoplasms	6,408	1.1	3,435	1.0	2,973	1.3
Diseases of the—
Blood and blood-forming organs	440	0.1	223	0.1	217	0.1
Circulatory system	22,529	3.9	16,652	4.7	5,877	2.6
Digestive system	3,789	0.6	2,444	0.7	1,345	0.6
Genitourinary system	3,289	0.6	2,206	0.6	1,083	0.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	318,928	54.6	199,169	55.9	119,759	52.5
Nervous system and sense organs	34,553	5.9	17,174	4.8	17,379	7.6
Respiratory system	9,117	1.6	5,320	1.5	3,797	1.7
Skin and subcutaneous tissue	756	0.1	394	0.1	362	0.2
Other	687	0.1	300	0.1	387	0.2
Unknown	9,107	1.6	4,956	1.4	4,151	1.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
CONTACT: Kevin Kulzer (410) 965-5366 or di.asr@ssa.gov.