Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2018

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

Notes

In December 2018, approximately 474,000 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 is reduced until the month the worker reaches full retirement age 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 2018

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 2018. 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.

Bar chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 7. Distribution of workers, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2018 (percent)
Diagnostic group Men Women
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.2 1.6
Injuries 7.8 4.0
Mental disorders 12.6 16.8
Circulatory system 3.6 2.0
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 65.0 63.0
Nervous system and sense organs 4.5 6.8
All other impairments 5.4 5.8
 
SOURCE: Table 34.
Table 31. Distribution of workers and dependents who have filed, by reason for having or not having an offset, December 2018
Reason Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and dependents 562,933 100.0 473,896 100.0 89,037 100.0
  With offset
Receipt of—  
Workers' compensation only  
Black Lung 515 0.1 379 0.1 136 0.2
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen 373 0.1 294 0.1 79 0.1
Federal employees 4,268 0.8 3,589 0.8 679 0.8
State 71,599 12.7 54,548 11.5 17,051 19.2
Public disability only  
Federal 599 0.1 532 0.1 67 0.1
State 7,667 1.4 6,559 1.4 1,108 1.2
Local 380 0.1 307 0.1 73 0.1
Workers' compensation and public disability 396 0.1 344 0.1 52 0.1
Social Security Disability Insurance (reverse offset) 43,180 7.7 36,312 7.7 6,868 7.7
  Without offset
High average current earnings 370,882 65.9 317,067 66.9 53,815 60.4
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending 63,074 11.2 53,965 11.4 9,109 10.2
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 32. Distribution of workers and dependents who have filed, by state or other area of residence, December 2018
State or area Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All areas 562,933 100.0 473,896 100.0 89,037 100.0
Alabama 10,197 1.8 8,300 1.8 1,897 2.1
Alaska 390 0.1 330 0.1 60 0.1
Arizona 6,984 1.2 5,970 1.3 1,014 1.1
Arkansas 4,712 0.8 3,889 0.8 823 0.9
California 70,455 12.5 61,801 13.0 8,654 9.7
Colorado 6,512 1.2 5,614 1.2 898 1.0
Connecticut 5,021 0.9 4,214 0.9 807 0.9
Delaware 1,748 0.3 1,515 0.3 233 0.3
District of Columbia 257 (L) 235 (L) 22 (L)
Florida 29,252 5.2 24,831 5.2 4,421 5.0
Georgia 20,250 3.6 16,994 3.6 3,256 3.7
Hawaii 1,476 0.3 1,252 0.3 224 0.3
Idaho 2,113 0.4 1,737 0.4 376 0.4
Illinois 16,463 2.9 13,641 2.9 2,822 3.2
Indiana 4,233 0.8 3,479 0.7 754 0.8
Iowa 4,312 0.8 3,657 0.8 655 0.7
Kansas 2,792 0.5 2,325 0.5 467 0.5
Kentucky 14,251 2.5 11,646 2.5 2,605 2.9
Louisiana 8,261 1.5 6,641 1.4 1,620 1.8
Maine 4,903 0.9 4,197 0.9 706 0.8
Maryland 4,204 0.7 3,642 0.8 562 0.6
Massachusetts 15,871 2.8 13,073 2.8 2,798 3.1
Michigan 28,465 5.1 23,631 5.0 4,834 5.4
Minnesota 7,153 1.3 6,181 1.3 972 1.1
Mississippi 5,619 1.0 4,534 1.0 1,085 1.2
Missouri 9,558 1.7 8,128 1.7 1,430 1.6
Montana 1,776 0.3 1,545 0.3 231 0.3
Nebraska 1,587 0.3 1,306 0.3 281 0.3
Nevada 3,285 0.6 2,883 0.6 402 0.5
New Hampshire 3,705 0.7 3,078 0.6 627 0.7
New Jersey 13,259 2.4 10,865 2.3 2,394 2.7
New Mexico 3,024 0.5 2,581 0.5 443 0.5
New York 71,772 12.7 59,616 12.6 12,156 13.7
North Carolina 21,126 3.8 17,861 3.8 3,265 3.7
North Dakota 602 0.1 510 0.1 92 0.1
Ohio 12,803 2.3 11,105 2.3 1,698 1.9
Oklahoma 5,843 1.0 4,999 1.1 844 0.9
Oregon 5,595 1.0 4,842 1.0 753 0.8
Pennsylvania 36,480 6.5 30,426 6.4 6,054 6.8
Rhode Island 2,922 0.5 2,464 0.5 458 0.5
South Carolina 13,335 2.4 11,119 2.3 2,216 2.5
South Dakota 792 0.1 666 0.1 126 0.1
Tennessee 12,793 2.3 10,648 2.2 2,145 2.4
Texas 10,547 1.9 8,633 1.8 1,914 2.1
Utah 1,385 0.2 1,117 0.2 268 0.3
Vermont 1,008 0.2 860 0.2 148 0.2
Virginia 9,649 1.7 8,057 1.7 1,592 1.8
Washington 10,632 1.9 9,116 1.9 1,516 1.7
West Virginia 4,917 0.9 3,908 0.8 1,009 1.1
Wisconsin 7,435 1.3 6,255 1.3 1,180 1.3
Wyoming 482 0.1 412 0.1 70 0.1
Outlying areas  
Puerto Rico 19,614 3.5 16,739 3.5 2,875 3.2
Other a 125 (L) 85 (L) 40 (L)
Foreign countries 988 0.2 743 0.2 245 0.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Distribution is by state or other area of residence, not by the state paying benefits.
(L) = less than 0.05 percent.
a. Includes American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 33. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and age, December 2018
Diagnostic group Total, all ages Under 35 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–FRA
  Number
Total 473,896 3,106 6,618 14,457 32,388 70,198 140,195 206,934
Congenital anomalies 232 4 5 16 22 35 76 74
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 6,407 36 75 128 356 912 1,861 3,039
Infectious and parasitic diseases 2,625 15 37 79 158 412 791 1,133
Injuries 29,812 435 720 1,273 2,412 4,472 8,324 12,176
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders 57 13 7 3 6 7 10 11
Developmental disorders 85 3 3 6 7 18 28 20
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 92 7 5 12 9 13 23 23
Intellectual disability 3,476 53 78 115 288 648 1,003 1,291
Mood disorders 39,050 354 612 1,458 3,237 6,516 10,944 15,929
Organic mental disorders 9,687 154 255 460 930 1,550 2,651 3,687
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 4,898 177 150 282 458 797 1,331 1,703
Other 10,183 230 377 598 1,134 1,793 2,671 3,380
Neoplasms 5,554 118 131 186 420 791 1,489 2,419
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 319 9 11 21 31 52 84 111
Circulatory system 13,969 60 120 276 723 1,732 3,983 7,075
Digestive system 2,419 31 57 98 170 332 711 1,020
Genitourinary system 2,640 93 99 151 294 491 699 813
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 304,105 875 3,151 7,791 18,822 43,696 92,707 137,063
Nervous system and sense organs 25,682 346 569 1,130 2,106 4,142 7,232 10,157
Respiratory system 6,361 28 42 111 274 784 1,859 3,263
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 450 7 13 20 30 63 140 177
Other 413 4 8 12 42 62 105 180
Unknown 5,380 54 93 231 459 880 1,473 2,190
  Percent
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Congenital anomalies (L) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L) 0.1 (L)
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.4 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.5
Infectious and parasitic diseases 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5
Injuries 6.3 14.0 10.9 8.8 7.4 6.4 5.9 5.9
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders (L) 0.4 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)
Developmental disorders (L) 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified (L) 0.2 0.1 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L)
Intellectual disability 0.7 1.7 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.6
Mood disorders 8.2 11.4 9.2 10.1 10.0 9.3 7.8 7.7
Organic mental disorders 2.0 5.0 3.9 3.2 2.9 2.2 1.9 1.8
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 1.0 5.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 1.1 0.9 0.8
Other 2.1 7.4 5.7 4.1 3.5 2.6 1.9 1.6
Neoplasms 1.2 3.8 2.0 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Circulatory system 2.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.4
Digestive system 0.5 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Genitourinary system 0.6 3.0 1.5 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 64.2 28.2 47.6 53.9 58.1 62.2 66.1 66.2
Nervous system and sense organs 5.4 11.1 8.6 7.8 6.5 5.9 5.2 4.9
Respiratory system 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.6
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Other 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Unknown 1.1 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: FRA = full retirement age; (L) = less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 34. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2018
Diagnostic group Total Men Women
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled workers 473,896 100.0 288,133 100.0 185,763 100.0
Congenital anomalies 232 (L) 130 (L) 102 0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 6,407 1.4 3,346 1.2 3,061 1.6
Infectious and parasitic diseases 2,625 0.6 2,127 0.7 498 0.3
Injuries 29,812 6.3 22,331 7.8 7,481 4.0
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders 57 (L) 42 (L) 15 (L)
Developmental disorders 85 (L) 56 (L) 29 (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 92 (L) 56 (L) 36 (L)
Intellectual disability 3,476 0.7 2,632 0.9 844 0.5
Mood disorders 39,050 8.2 17,967 6.2 21,083 11.3
Organic mental disorders 9,687 2.0 7,172 2.5 2,515 1.4
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 4,898 1.0 3,243 1.1 1,655 0.9
Other 10,183 2.1 5,218 1.8 4,965 2.7
Neoplasms 5,554 1.2 2,924 1.0 2,630 1.4
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 319 0.1 161 0.1 158 0.1
Circulatory system 13,969 2.9 10,286 3.6 3,683 2.0
Digestive system 2,419 0.5 1,483 0.5 936 0.5
Genitourinary system 2,640 0.6 1,774 0.6 866 0.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 304,105 64.2 187,144 65.0 116,961 63.0
Nervous system and sense organs 25,682 5.4 12,977 4.5 12,705 6.8
Respiratory system 6,361 1.3 3,777 1.3 2,584 1.4
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 450 0.1 228 0.1 222 0.1
Other 413 0.1 180 0.1 233 0.1
Unknown 5,380 1.1 2,879 1.0 2,501 1.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: (L) = less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.