Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2023

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

Notes

In December 2023, approximately 367,000 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 2023

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 2023. Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders were the second leading disabling condition for women. Injuries were the second leading disabling condition for men. A disorder of the nervous system and sense organs was the third most common disability for women. Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 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 2023 (percent)
Diagnostic group Men Women
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 5.2 9.4
All other mental disorders 6.1 5.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 66.0 64.9
Injuries 7.9 4.1
Nervous system and sense organs 4.7 6.9
Circulatory system 3.5 2.0
All other nonmental impairments 6.6 7.4
 
SOURCE: Table 34.
Table 31. Distribution of workers and dependents who have filed, by reason for having or not having an offset, December 2023
Reason Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and dependents 423,313 100.0 367,052 100.0 56,261 100.0
  With offset
Receipt of—  
Workers' compensation only  
Black Lung 338 0.1 251 0.1 87 0.2
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen 191 (L) 152 (L) 39 0.1
Federal employees 3,245 0.8 2,827 0.8 418 0.7
State 50,063 11.8 39,819 10.8 10,244 18.2
Public disability only  
Federal 240 0.1 217 0.1 23 (L)
State 7,092 1.7 6,202 1.7 890 1.6
Local 349 0.1 293 0.1 56 0.1
Workers' compensation and public disability 333 0.1 287 0.1 46 0.1
Social Security Disability Insurance (reverse offset) 28,876 6.8 24,936 6.8 3,940 7.0
  Without offset
High average current earnings 288,610 68.2 253,091 69.0 35,519 63.1
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending 43,976 10.4 38,977 10.6 4,999 8.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: (L) = less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 32. Distribution of workers and dependents who have filed, by state or other area of residence, December 2023
State or area Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All areas 423,313 100.0 367,052 100.0 56,261 100.0
Alabama 7,748 1.8 6,461 1.8 1,287 2.3
Alaska 277 0.1 242 0.1 35 0.1
Arizona 5,171 1.2 4,525 1.2 646 1.1
Arkansas 3,511 0.8 2,979 0.8 532 0.9
California 48,303 11.4 43,040 11.7 5,263 9.4
Colorado 4,308 1.0 3,836 1.0 472 0.8
Connecticut 4,178 1.0 3,648 1.0 530 0.9
Delaware 1,407 0.3 1,241 0.3 166 0.3
District of Columbia 179 (L) 169 (L) 10 (L)
Florida 22,154 5.2 19,323 5.3 2,831 5.0
Georgia 15,505 3.7 13,402 3.7 2,103 3.7
Hawaii 1,168 0.3 985 0.3 183 0.3
Idaho 1,724 0.4 1,491 0.4 233 0.4
Illinois 11,918 2.8 10,309 2.8 1,609 2.9
Indiana 3,477 0.8 2,992 0.8 485 0.9
Iowa 3,626 0.9 3,166 0.9 460 0.8
Kansas 1,959 0.5 1,677 0.5 282 0.5
Kentucky 10,341 2.4 8,713 2.4 1,628 2.9
Louisiana 6,016 1.4 5,044 1.4 972 1.7
Maine 3,729 0.9 3,295 0.9 434 0.8
Maryland 3,070 0.7 2,722 0.7 348 0.6
Massachusetts 12,901 3.0 11,112 3.0 1,789 3.2
Michigan 19,943 4.7 17,044 4.6 2,899 5.2
Minnesota 6,046 1.4 5,255 1.4 791 1.4
Mississippi 4,098 1.0 3,423 0.9 675 1.2
Missouri 7,218 1.7 6,327 1.7 891 1.6
Montana 1,178 0.3 1,046 0.3 132 0.2
Nebraska 1,159 0.3 996 0.3 163 0.3
Nevada 2,355 0.6 2,140 0.6 215 0.4
New Hampshire 2,980 0.7 2,568 0.7 412 0.7
New Jersey 9,987 2.4 8,602 2.3 1,385 2.5
New Mexico 2,016 0.5 1,798 0.5 218 0.4
New York 56,479 13.3 48,580 13.2 7,899 14.0
North Carolina 17,705 4.2 15,460 4.2 2,245 4.0
North Dakota 437 0.1 394 0.1 43 0.1
Ohio 9,492 2.2 8,393 2.3 1,099 2.0
Oklahoma 4,519 1.1 3,979 1.1 540 1.0
Oregon 4,037 1.0 3,569 1.0 468 0.8
Pennsylvania 30,007 7.1 25,914 7.1 4,093 7.3
Rhode Island 2,430 0.6 2,095 0.6 335 0.6
South Carolina 10,850 2.6 9,394 2.6 1,456 2.6
South Dakota 645 0.2 553 0.2 92 0.2
Tennessee 9,337 2.2 8,040 2.2 1,297 2.3
Texas 7,645 1.8 6,401 1.7 1,244 2.2
Utah 1,013 0.2 853 0.2 160 0.3
Vermont 926 0.2 785 0.2 141 0.3
Virginia 7,395 1.7 6,367 1.7 1,028 1.8
Washington 7,287 1.7 6,366 1.7 921 1.6
West Virginia 3,117 0.7 2,525 0.7 592 1.1
Wisconsin 6,088 1.4 5,285 1.4 803 1.4
Wyoming 422 0.1 365 0.1 57 0.1
Outlying areas  
Puerto Rico 13,025 3.1 11,571 3.2 1,454 2.6
Other a 69 (L) 54 (L) 15 (L)
Foreign countries 738 0.2 538 0.1 200 0.4
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 33. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and age, December 2023
Diagnostic group Total, all ages Under 35 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–FRA
  Number
Total 367,052 2,097 3,520 8,472 17,568 41,696 91,696 202,003
Congenital anomalies 203 5 0 7 19 31 44 97
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 3,853 20 22 76 161 441 979 2,154
Infectious and parasitic diseases 1,708 10 18 28 78 176 414 984
Injuries 23,433 314 400 909 1,479 2,964 5,606 11,761
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders 69 27 8 6 3 6 8 11
Developmental disorders 73 3 5 5 6 8 19 27
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 32 (X) (X) 4 7 4 5 7
Intellectual disorders 2,187 29 37 68 106 257 577 1,113
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 25,136 169 270 649 1,437 3,147 6,310 13,154
Neurocognitive disorders 7,383 95 164 317 528 1,028 1,735 3,516
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 3,391 163 111 181 274 431 737 1,494
Other mental disorders 8,270 136 220 470 743 1,241 1,986 3,474
Neoplasms 5,203 121 98 210 280 620 1,250 2,624
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 266 9 11 10 23 35 58 120
Circulatory system 10,682 50 95 193 418 1,139 2,591 6,196
Digestive system 1,808 31 36 84 112 223 419 903
Genitourinary system 2,573 95 92 151 234 410 606 985
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 240,688 461 1,423 4,090 9,790 25,833 60,977 138,114
Nervous system and sense organs 20,388 294 396 773 1,385 2,589 5,007 9,944
Respiratory system 5,167 19 39 79 175 501 1,254 3,100
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 350 5 6 16 28 43 68 184
Other 183 (X) (X) 8 9 30 42 88
Unknown 4,006 37 62 138 273 539 1,004 1,953
  Percent
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Congenital anomalies 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L) (L)
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1
Infectious and parasitic diseases 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5
Injuries 6.4 15.0 11.4 10.7 8.4 7.1 6.1 5.8
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders (L) 1.3 0.2 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L)
Developmental disorders (L) 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified (L) (X) (X) (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)
Intellectual disorders 0.6 1.4 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 6.8 8.1 7.7 7.7 8.2 7.5 6.9 6.5
Neurocognitive disorders 2.0 4.5 4.7 3.7 3.0 2.5 1.9 1.7
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 0.9 7.8 3.2 2.1 1.6 1.0 0.8 0.7
Other mental disorders 2.3 6.5 6.3 5.5 4.2 3.0 2.2 1.7
Neoplasms 1.4 5.8 2.8 2.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Circulatory system 2.9 2.4 2.7 2.3 2.4 2.7 2.8 3.1
Digestive system 0.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4
Genitourinary system 0.7 4.5 2.6 1.8 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 65.6 22.0 40.4 48.3 55.7 62.0 66.5 68.4
Nervous system and sense organs 5.6 14.0 11.3 9.1 7.9 6.2 5.5 4.9
Respiratory system 1.4 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1
Other (L) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L) (L)
Unknown 1.1 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.1 1.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: FRA = full retirement age; (L) = less than 0.05 percent; (X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
CONTACT: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 34. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2023
Diagnostic group Total Men Women
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled workers 367,052 100.0 223,136 100.0 143,916 100.0
Congenital anomalies 203 0.1 115 0.1 88 0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 3,853 1.0 2,104 0.9 1,749 1.2
Infectious and parasitic diseases 1,708 0.5 1,343 0.6 365 0.3
Injuries 23,433 6.4 17,542 7.9 5,891 4.1
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders 69 (L) 54 (L) 15 (L)
Developmental disorders 73 (L) 47 (L) 26 (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 32 (L) 23 (L) 9 (L)
Intellectual disorders 2,187 0.6 1,627 0.7 560 0.4
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 25,136 6.8 11,569 5.2 13,567 9.4
Neurocognitive disorders 7,383 2.0 5,421 2.4 1,962 1.4
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 3,391 0.9 2,254 1.0 1,137 0.8
Other mental disorders 8,270 2.3 4,272 1.9 3,998 2.8
Neoplasms 5,203 1.4 2,673 1.2 2,530 1.8
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 266 0.1 140 0.1 126 0.1
Circulatory system 10,682 2.9 7,744 3.5 2,938 2.0
Digestive system 1,808 0.5 1,092 0.5 716 0.5
Genitourinary system 2,573 0.7 1,745 0.8 828 0.6
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 240,688 65.6 147,328 66.0 93,360 64.9
Nervous system and sense organs 20,388 5.6 10,529 4.7 9,859 6.9
Respiratory system 5,167 1.4 3,087 1.4 2,080 1.4
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 350 0.1 181 0.1 169 0.1
Other 183 (L) 108 (L) 75 0.1
Unknown 4,006 1.1 2,138 1.0 1,868 1.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: (L) = less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: statistics@ssa.gov.