Q & A
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION?
Answer: There are two different types of lifelong compensation if your injury is bad enough that you will never be able to return to work. These types of compensation are called “Social Security Disability” and “Permanent Total Disability” in Colorado Workers’ Compensation law. These laws are different by state, so this article may serve as a guideline for people who don’t live in Colorado, but you should consult an attorney in your state if you are seeking either of these benefits.
Social Security Disability is available to anyone that has paid into the social security system over the last 5 years and is more comprehensive. Social Security takes into account all of your major medical problems like Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc. as well as any injuries, work or otherwise, when considering your ability to go back to work. On the other hand, Permanent Total Disability under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation system, is more restricted. It only considers whether your work injury has created a condition that restricts you from being able to return to any type of work. If there is a pre-existing condition to be considered, it must be the work injury that is “the straw that broke the camel’s back” and prevented you from being able to earn any income. Read more…
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.