Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2017

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

Notes

In December 2017, approximately 488,000 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 2017

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 2017. 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 2017 (percent)
Diagnostic group Men Women
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.2 1.7
Injuries 7.8 4.1
Mental disorders 13.0 17.3
Circulatory system 3.6 2.0
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 64.5 62.3
Nervous system and sense organs 4.5 6.9
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 2017
Reason Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and dependents 582,914 100.0 487,524 100.0 95,390 100.0
  With offset
Receipt of—  
Workers' compensation only  
Black Lung 501 0.1 365 0.1 136 0.1
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen 402 0.1 308 0.1 94 0.1
Federal employees 4,554 0.8 3,791 0.8 763 0.8
State 76,407 13.1 57,670 11.8 18,737 19.6
Public disability only  
Federal 669 0.1 608 0.1 61 0.1
State 7,749 1.3 6,456 1.3 1,293 1.4
Local 416 0.1 325 0.1 91 0.1
Workers' compensation and public disability 451 0.1 374 0.1 77 0.1
Social Security Disability Insurance (reverse offset) 45,219 7.8 37,872 7.8 7,347 7.7
  Without offset
High average current earnings 379,843 65.2 323,449 66.3 56,394 59.1
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending 66,703 11.4 56,306 11.5 10,397 10.9
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 2017
State or area Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All areas 582,914 100.0 487,524 100.0 95,390 100.0
Alabama 10,563 1.8 8,535 1.8 2,028 2.1
Alaska 399 0.1 340 0.1 59 0.1
Arizona 7,244 1.2 6,158 1.3 1,086 1.1
Arkansas 4,946 0.8 4,040 0.8 906 0.9
California 74,280 12.7 64,695 13.3 9,585 10.0
Colorado 6,836 1.2 5,885 1.2 951 1.0
Connecticut 5,173 0.9 4,281 0.9 892 0.9
Delaware 1,761 0.3 1,512 0.3 249 0.3
District of Columbia 275 (L) 255 0.1 20 (L)
Florida 30,528 5.2 25,766 5.3 4,762 5.0
Georgia 20,854 3.6 17,315 3.6 3,539 3.7
Hawaii 1,536 0.3 1,289 0.3 247 0.3
Idaho 2,120 0.4 1,737 0.4 383 0.4
Illinois 16,823 2.9 13,826 2.8 2,997 3.1
Indiana 4,352 0.7 3,571 0.7 781 0.8
Iowa 4,334 0.7 3,661 0.8 673 0.7
Kansas 2,966 0.5 2,451 0.5 515 0.5
Kentucky 14,735 2.5 12,003 2.5 2,732 2.9
Louisiana 8,554 1.5 6,819 1.4 1,735 1.8
Maine 5,092 0.9 4,328 0.9 764 0.8
Maryland 4,319 0.7 3,735 0.8 584 0.6
Massachusetts 16,195 2.8 13,237 2.7 2,958 3.1
Michigan 29,903 5.1 24,718 5.1 5,185 5.4
Minnesota 7,366 1.3 6,301 1.3 1,065 1.1
Mississippi 5,745 1.0 4,653 1.0 1,092 1.1
Missouri 9,909 1.7 8,376 1.7 1,533 1.6
Montana 1,901 0.3 1,644 0.3 257 0.3
Nebraska 1,643 0.3 1,337 0.3 306 0.3
Nevada 3,426 0.6 2,970 0.6 456 0.5
New Hampshire 3,777 0.6 3,090 0.6 687 0.7
New Jersey 13,728 2.4 11,203 2.3 2,525 2.6
New Mexico 3,148 0.5 2,672 0.5 476 0.5
New York 73,792 12.7 60,815 12.5 12,977 13.6
North Carolina 21,748 3.7 18,295 3.8 3,453 3.6
North Dakota 626 0.1 530 0.1 96 0.1
Ohio 13,435 2.3 11,560 2.4 1,875 2.0
Oklahoma 6,071 1.0 5,170 1.1 901 0.9
Oregon 5,826 1.0 5,009 1.0 817 0.9
Pennsylvania 36,893 6.3 30,494 6.3 6,399 6.7
Rhode Island 2,959 0.5 2,483 0.5 476 0.5
South Carolina 13,551 2.3 11,214 2.3 2,337 2.4
South Dakota 816 0.1 689 0.1 127 0.1
Tennessee 13,148 2.3 10,864 2.2 2,284 2.4
Texas 10,983 1.9 8,915 1.8 2,068 2.2
Utah 1,459 0.3 1,170 0.2 289 0.3
Vermont 1,018 0.2 869 0.2 149 0.2
Virginia 9,762 1.7 8,131 1.7 1,631 1.7
Washington 11,170 1.9 9,563 2.0 1,607 1.7
West Virginia 5,103 0.9 4,095 0.8 1,008 1.1
Wisconsin 7,536 1.3 6,284 1.3 1,252 1.3
Wyoming 456 0.1 393 0.1 63 0.1
Outlying areas  
Puerto Rico 20,983 3.6 17,733 3.6 3,250 3.4
Other a 124 (L) 84 (L) 40 (L)
Foreign countries 1,024 0.2 761 0.2 263 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 2017
Diagnostic group Total, all ages Under 35 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–FRA
  Number
Total 487,524 3,643 7,452 16,110 36,284 78,088 146,582 199,365
Congenital anomalies 233 (X) (X) 15 23 42 76 70
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 6,910 38 80 161 415 1,091 1,995 3,130
Infectious and parasitic diseases 2,792 21 45 77 193 496 818 1,142
Injuries 30,965 487 778 1,376 2,659 5,000 8,857 11,808
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders 54 10 7 3 9 6 11 8
Developmental disorders 92 (X) (X) 8 8 28 22 17
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 87 8 4 10 12 13 20 20
Intellectual disability 3,683 64 82 131 372 711 1,061 1,262
Mood disorders 41,759 432 765 1,707 3,792 7,440 11,511 16,112
Organic mental disorders 10,156 187 270 521 1,016 1,757 2,788 3,617
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 5,126 170 179 276 533 899 1,419 1,650
Other 10,402 267 410 625 1,205 1,973 2,702 3,220
Neoplasms 5,494 117 141 225 428 851 1,509 2,223
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 321 13 11 27 29 50 77 114
Circulatory system 14,455 62 131 287 816 1,887 4,239 7,033
Digestive system 2,603 38 57 100 204 390 760 1,054
Genitourinary system 2,639 98 106 164 291 512 685 783
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 310,277 1,135 3,575 8,746 21,053 48,419 96,768 130,581
Nervous system and sense organs 26,484 394 614 1,253 2,303 4,559 7,471 9,890
Respiratory system 6,384 28 42 121 313 866 1,972 3,042
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 478 11 15 23 36 67 154 172
Other 455 4 10 13 51 72 126 179
Unknown 5,675 52 121 241 523 959 1,541 2,238
  Percent
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Congenital anomalies (L) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L)
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.4 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.6
Infectious and parasitic diseases 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6
Injuries 6.4 13.4 10.4 8.5 7.3 6.4 6.0 5.9
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders (L) 0.3 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)
Developmental disorders (L) (X) (X) (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 0.8 1.8 1.1 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.6
Mood disorders 8.6 11.9 10.3 10.6 10.5 9.5 7.9 8.1
Organic mental disorders 2.1 5.1 3.6 3.2 2.8 2.3 1.9 1.8
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 1.1 4.7 2.4 1.7 1.5 1.2 1.0 0.8
Other 2.1 7.3 5.5 3.9 3.3 2.5 1.8 1.6
Neoplasms 1.1 3.2 1.9 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Circulatory system 3.0 1.7 1.8 1.8 2.2 2.4 2.9 3.5
Digestive system 0.5 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5
Genitourinary system 0.5 2.7 1.4 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 63.6 31.2 48.0 54.3 58.0 62.0 66.0 65.5
Nervous system and sense organs 5.4 10.8 8.2 7.8 6.3 5.8 5.1 5.0
Respiratory system 1.3 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 0.1 0.3 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 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: FRA = full retirement age; (X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals; (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 2017
Diagnostic group Total Men Women
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled workers 487,524 100.0 296,264 100.0 191,260 100.0
Congenital anomalies 233 (L) 127 (L) 106 0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 6,910 1.4 3,621 1.2 3,289 1.7
Infectious and parasitic diseases 2,792 0.6 2,249 0.8 543 0.3
Injuries 30,965 6.4 23,161 7.8 7,804 4.1
Mental disorders  
Autistic disorders 54 (L) 39 (L) 15 (L)
Developmental disorders 92 (L) 62 (L) 30 (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 87 (L) 52 (L) 35 (L)
Intellectual disability 3,683 0.8 2,779 0.9 904 0.5
Mood disorders 41,759 8.6 19,150 6.5 22,609 11.8
Organic mental disorders 10,156 2.1 7,531 2.5 2,625 1.4
Schizophrenic and other psychotic disorders 5,126 1.1 3,380 1.1 1,746 0.9
Other 10,402 2.1 5,371 1.8 5,031 2.6
Neoplasms 5,494 1.1 2,882 1.0 2,612 1.4
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 321 0.1 165 0.1 156 0.1
Circulatory system 14,455 3.0 10,615 3.6 3,840 2.0
Digestive system 2,603 0.5 1,604 0.5 999 0.5
Genitourinary system 2,639 0.5 1,797 0.6 842 0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 310,277 63.6 191,154 64.5 119,123 62.3
Nervous system and sense organs 26,484 5.4 13,330 4.5 13,154 6.9
Respiratory system 6,384 1.3 3,701 1.2 2,683 1.4
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 478 0.1 240 0.1 238 0.1
Other 455 0.1 202 0.1 253 0.1
Unknown 5,675 1.2 3,052 1.0 2,623 1.4
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.