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.

Bar chart with tabular version below.
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
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
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
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.