Charles Spinelli Comparing Workers Comp and SSD

 Charles Spinelli: A Comparison of Workers' Comp and SSD

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Obtaining Worker's Comp and SSD

According to Charles Spinelli, the benefits from workers' compensation, or worker's comp, include wage benefits and medical compensation. Furthermore, if your work injury prevents you from completing acceptable workloads, you may be eligible for disability benefits during your recovery period. It leads to the question -- can you collect workers' compensation as well as disability insurance at the same time?

The short answer is yes. 

While it is possible to get workers' comp, as well as SSD (Social Security Disability), benefits at the same time, to do so, you will need to qualify for both. Charles Spinelli notes that you should also understand that getting SSD benefits may affect how much you will be able to collect from your workers' compensation claim.

Understanding Worker's Comp 

There are a number of significant differences to note between worker's comp and SSD, says Charles Spinelli. For example, workers' comp is insurance your employer purchases in order to cover workers who get injured at work. The laws vary from state to state. In Georgia, for instance, employers with three or more regular employees have to carry workers' compensation, so most workers have coverage. 

You likewise get covered by workers' comp from your first day of employment. After a work injury, you may also file a workers' comp claim to cover a huge part of your medical costs as well as supplemental income if you can't work for a certain period.

Now, to be able to qualify for worker's comp, your injury does not have to occur while you are performing your work duties. It does, however, need to happen while you are at work. That said, there are some situations where you may be covered if you are injured while traveling as part of your job. 

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Details on Social Security Disability

SSD is a federal program. Through it, benefits are given through the Social Security Administration, or SSA. If you have worked a job that pays Social Security, you have paid into your SSD through a portion of each paycheck, notes Charles Spinelli.

SSD provides you with income in the unfortunate event that you become disabled and unable to work. It would be best if you had a disabling condition which prevents you from working. Unlike workers' compensation, SSD does not need to result from a work-related injury or condition.

To get your SSD, you must have paid into SSD through your previous employment and earned enough work credits in the past 10 years. It would help if you also were unable to work for at least one year or have a terminal condition or a condition that the SSA recognizes as disabling.

On a final note, Charles Spinelli says that both workers' compensation and SSD benefits normally continue until you are able to return to work regularly.

Charles Spinelli shares important information on human resources on his blogs. Read them on this page<.