Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2007

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

Note

In December 2007, approximately 586,000 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 2007

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 2007. 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 2007 (percent)
Diagnostic group Men Women
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.9 3.1
Injuries 8.4 4.3
Mental disorders 18.0 23.7
Circulatory system 5.0 2.7
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 55.1 51.4
Nervous system and sense organs 4.8 7.7
All other impairments 6.9 7.1
 
SOURCE: Table 34.
Table 31. Distribution of workers and nondisabled dependents who have filed, by reason for having or not having an offset, December 2007
Reason Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and nondisabled dependents 776,536 100.0 586,011 100.0 190,525 100.0
With offset
Receipt of—
Workers' compensation only
Black Lung 218 a 155 a 63 a
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen 909 0.1 631 0.1 278 0.1
Federal employees 3,367 0.4 2,540 0.4 827 0.4
State 148,640 19.1 98,781 16.9 49,859 26.2
Public disability only
Federal 2,470 0.3 2,098 0.4 372 0.2
State 18,109 2.3 13,855 2.4 4,254 2.2
Local 764 0.1 572 0.1 192 0.1
Workers' compensation and—
Federal public disability 25 a 24 a 1 a
State public disability 936 0.1 689 0.1 247 0.1
Local public disability 17 a 11 a 6 a
Social Security Disability Insurance (Reverse Offset) 58,639 7.6 45,072 7.7 13,567 7.1
Without offset
High average current earnings 352,596 45.4 279,176 47.6 73,420 38.5
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending 189,846 24.4 142,407 24.3 47,439 24.9
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 2007
State or area Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All areas 776,536 100.0 586,011 100.0 190,525 100.0
Alabama 14,417 1.9 10,613 1.8 3,804 2.0
Alaska 715 0.1 567 0.1 148 0.1
Arizona 11,089 1.4 8,574 1.5 2,515 1.3
Arkansas 7,485 1.0 5,618 1.0 1,867 1.0
California 133,462 17.2 105,241 18.0 28,221 14.8
Colorado 10,196 1.3 7,951 1.4 2,245 1.2
Connecticut 6,150 0.8 4,538 0.8 1,612 0.8
Delaware 2,115 0.3 1,578 0.3 537 0.3
District of Columbia 375 a 322 0.1 53 a
Florida 42,320 5.4 32,319 5.5 10,001 5.2
Georgia 20,872 2.7 15,959 2.7 4,913 2.6
Hawaii 2,404 0.3 1,834 0.3 570 0.3
Idaho 2,702 0.3 2,098 0.4 604 0.3
Illinois 17,527 2.3 12,882 2.2 4,645 2.4
Indiana 5,658 0.7 4,178 0.7 1,480 0.8
Iowa 3,992 0.5 3,027 0.5 965 0.5
Kansas 3,524 0.5 2,725 0.5 799 0.4
Kentucky 23,300 3.0 17,210 2.9 6,090 3.2
Louisiana 13,218 1.7 8,868 1.5 4,350 2.3
Maine 6,073 0.8 4,642 0.8 1,431 0.8
Maryland 5,822 0.7 4,540 0.8 1,282 0.7
Massachusetts 16,638 2.1 12,198 2.1 4,440 2.3
Michigan 34,818 4.5 26,615 4.5 8,203 4.3
Minnesota 6,499 0.8 5,131 0.9 1,368 0.7
Mississippi 7,830 1.0 5,653 1.0 2,177 1.1
Missouri 13,791 1.8 10,438 1.8 3,353 1.8
Montana 3,186 0.4 2,541 0.4 645 0.3
Nebraska 2,415 0.3 1,802 0.3 613 0.3
Nevada 4,674 0.6 3,751 0.6 923 0.5
New Hampshire 4,030 0.5 2,919 0.5 1,111 0.6
New Jersey 19,525 2.5 14,446 2.5 5,079 2.7
New Mexico 4,343 0.6 3,293 0.6 1,050 0.6
New York 87,748 11.3 63,358 10.8 24,390 12.8
North Carolina 19,604 2.5 14,923 2.5 4,681 2.5
North Dakota 1,057 0.1 797 0.1 260 0.1
Ohio 18,829 2.4 14,593 2.5 4,236 2.2
Oklahoma 8,913 1.1 6,875 1.2 2,038 1.1
Oregon 6,243 0.8 5,008 0.9 1,235 0.6
Pennsylvania 37,122 4.8 27,252 4.7 9,870 5.2
Rhode Island 3,450 0.4 2,739 0.5 711 0.4
South Carolina 12,308 1.6 9,181 1.6 3,127 1.6
South Dakota 1,070 0.1 793 0.1 277 0.1
Tennessee 13,300 1.7 10,173 1.7 3,127 1.6
Texas 21,163 2.7 15,553 2.7 5,610 2.9
Utah 2,232 0.3 1,624 0.3 608 0.3
Vermont 1,103 0.1 820 0.1 283 0.1
Virginia 13,081 1.7 9,624 1.6 3,457 1.8
Washington 11,851 1.5 9,439 1.6 2,412 1.3
West Virginia 11,522 1.5 8,737 1.5 2,785 1.5
Wisconsin 9,199 1.2 6,980 1.2 2,219 1.2
Wyoming 746 0.1 579 0.1 167 0.1
Outlying areas
Puerto Rico 42,832 5.5 31,586 5.4 11,246 5.9
Other b 334 a 189 a 145 0.1
Foreign countries 1,664 0.2 1,117 0.2 547 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 2007
Diagnostic group Total,
all ages
Under 35 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64
Number
Total 586,011 10,870 20,223 45,134 81,672 120,778 154,372 152,962
Congenital anomalies 340 15 23 36 59 61 76 70
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 13,846 108 260 820 1,621 2,906 4,002 4,129
Infectious and parasitic diseases 5,097 99 225 690 1,064 1,183 1,108 728
Injuries 39,833 1,695 2,090 3,683 5,697 7,609 9,332 9,727
Mental disorders
Retardation 6,786 203 401 881 1,329 1,515 1,364 1,093
Other 111,693 3,442 5,360 11,318 19,099 24,990 26,749 20,735
Neoplasms 6,649 206 213 445 838 1,316 1,773 1,858
Diseases of the—
Blood and blood-forming organs 466 36 23 38 82 93 110 84
Circulatory system 24,091 187 330 846 1,901 3,831 7,269 9,727
Digestive system 3,930 60 98 256 589 979 1,126 822
Genitourinary system 3,378 223 220 349 495 689 778 624
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 314,227 3,416 9,057 21,489 41,542 64,589 86,005 88,129
Nervous system and sense organs 34,834 939 1,428 3,088 4,977 6,937 8,879 8,586
Respiratory system 9,546 81 163 366 844 1,668 2,785 3,639
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 799 21 33 71 126 153 203 192
Other 689 20 23 70 104 148 173 151
Unknown 9,807 119 276 688 1,305 2,111 2,640 2,668
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 2.4 1.0 1.3 1.8 2.0 2.4 2.6 2.7
Infectious and parasitic diseases 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.5
Injuries 6.8 15.6 10.3 8.2 7.0 6.3 6.0 6.4
Mental disorders
Retardation 1.2 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.7
Other 19.1 31.7 26.5 25.1 23.4 20.7 17.3 13.6
Neoplasms 1.1 1.9 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2
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 4.1 1.7 1.6 1.9 2.3 3.2 4.7 6.4
Digestive system 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.5
Genitourinary system 0.6 2.1 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 53.6 31.4 44.8 47.6 50.9 53.5 55.7 57.6
Nervous system and sense organs 5.9 8.6 7.1 6.8 6.1 5.7 5.8 5.6
Respiratory system 1.6 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.4 1.8 2.4
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1
Other 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Unknown 1.7 1.1 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.7 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 2007
Diagnostic group Total Men Women
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled workers 586,011 100.0 358,020 100.0 227,991 100.0
Congenital anomalies 340 0.1 189 0.1 151 0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 13,846 2.4 6,672 1.9 7,174 3.1
Infectious and parasitic diseases 5,097 0.9 4,139 1.2 958 0.4
Injuries 39,833 6.8 30,038 8.4 9,795 4.3
Mental disorders
Retardation 6,786 1.2 5,212 1.5 1,574 0.7
Other 111,693 19.1 59,295 16.6 52,398 23.0
Neoplasms 6,649 1.1 3,547 1.0 3,102 1.4
Diseases of the—
Blood and blood-forming organs 466 0.1 246 0.1 220 0.1
Circulatory system 24,091 4.1 17,839 5.0 6,252 2.7
Digestive system 3,930 0.7 2,535 0.7 1,395 0.6
Genitourinary system 3,378 0.6 2,273 0.6 1,105 0.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 314,227 53.6 197,111 55.1 117,116 51.4
Nervous system and sense organs 34,834 5.9 17,301 4.8 17,533 7.7
Respiratory system 9,546 1.6 5,590 1.6 3,956 1.7
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 799 0.1 420 0.1 379 0.2
Other 689 0.1 308 0.1 381 0.2
Unknown 9,807 1.7 5,305 1.5 4,502 2.0
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.