Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2021

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

Notes

In December 2021, approximately 414,000 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 2021

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 2021. 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 2021 (percent)
Diagnostic group Men Women
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.0 1.4
Injuries 7.7 4.0
Mental disorders 11.8 15.3
Circulatory system 3.4 2.0
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 66.0 64.7
Nervous system and sense organs 4.6 6.8
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 2021
Reason Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled beneficiaries and dependents 483,532 100.0 414,311 100.0 69,221 100.0
  With offset
Receipt of—  
Workers' compensation only  
Black Lung 396 0.1 292 0.1 104 0.2
Harbor Workers and Longshoremen 239 (L) 187 (L) 52 0.1
Federal employees 3,572 0.7 3,076 0.7 496 0.7
State 58,359 12.1 45,247 10.9 13,112 18.9
Public disability only  
Federal 330 0.1 310 0.1 20 (L)
State 7,320 1.5 6,280 1.5 1,040 1.5
Local 429 0.1 354 0.1 75 0.1
Workers' compensation and public disability 369 0.1 325 0.1 44 0.1
Social Security Disability Insurance (reverse offset) 35,036 7.2 30,007 7.2 5,029 7.3
  Without offset
High average current earnings 326,155 67.5 283,148 68.3 43,007 62.1
Entitlement to workers' compensation or public disability benefits is pending 51,327 10.6 45,085 10.9 6,242 9.0
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.
Table 32. Distribution of workers and dependents who have filed, by state or other area of residence, December 2021
State or area Total Workers Spouses and children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All areas 483,532 100.0 414,311 100.0 69,221 100.0
Alabama 8,803 1.8 7,243 1.7 1,560 2.3
Alaska 333 0.1 287 0.1 46 0.1
Arizona 6,104 1.3 5,298 1.3 806 1.2
Arkansas 4,010 0.8 3,376 0.8 634 0.9
California 56,839 11.8 50,338 12.1 6,501 9.4
Colorado 5,094 1.1 4,484 1.1 610 0.9
Connecticut 4,630 1.0 3,942 1.0 688 1.0
Delaware 1,577 0.3 1,385 0.3 192 0.3
District of Columbia 201 (L) 187 (L) 14 (L)
Florida 25,713 5.3 22,256 5.4 3,457 5.0
Georgia 17,795 3.7 15,237 3.7 2,558 3.7
Hawaii 1,355 0.3 1,135 0.3 220 0.3
Idaho 1,912 0.4 1,631 0.4 281 0.4
Illinois 13,994 2.9 11,890 2.9 2,104 3.0
Indiana 3,866 0.8 3,281 0.8 585 0.8
Iowa 3,960 0.8 3,399 0.8 561 0.8
Kansas 2,266 0.5 1,920 0.5 346 0.5
Kentucky 11,679 2.4 9,750 2.4 1,929 2.8
Louisiana 7,107 1.5 5,827 1.4 1,280 1.8
Maine 4,139 0.9 3,635 0.9 504 0.7
Maryland 3,586 0.7 3,144 0.8 442 0.6
Massachusetts 14,425 3.0 12,208 2.9 2,217 3.2
Michigan 23,318 4.8 19,629 4.7 3,689 5.3
Minnesota 6,635 1.4 5,761 1.4 874 1.3
Mississippi 4,797 1.0 3,975 1.0 822 1.2
Missouri 8,041 1.7 6,993 1.7 1,048 1.5
Montana 1,446 0.3 1,255 0.3 191 0.3
Nebraska 1,345 0.3 1,128 0.3 217 0.3
Nevada 2,696 0.6 2,410 0.6 286 0.4
New Hampshire 3,360 0.7 2,838 0.7 522 0.8
New Jersey 11,382 2.4 9,611 2.3 1,771 2.6
New Mexico 2,372 0.5 2,076 0.5 296 0.4
New York 63,413 13.1 53,683 13.0 9,730 14.1
North Carolina 19,524 4.0 16,787 4.1 2,737 4.0
North Dakota 492 0.1 434 0.1 58 0.1
Ohio 10,997 2.3 9,631 2.3 1,366 2.0
Oklahoma 4,979 1.0 4,349 1.0 630 0.9
Oregon 4,667 1.0 4,126 1.0 541 0.8
Pennsylvania 33,328 6.9 28,360 6.8 4,968 7.2
Rhode Island 2,631 0.5 2,249 0.5 382 0.6
South Carolina 12,065 2.5 10,260 2.5 1,805 2.6
South Dakota 691 0.1 597 0.1 94 0.1
Tennessee 10,828 2.2 9,220 2.2 1,608 2.3
Texas 8,803 1.8 7,334 1.8 1,469 2.1
Utah 1,172 0.2 974 0.2 198 0.3
Vermont 963 0.2 820 0.2 143 0.2
Virginia 8,431 1.7 7,148 1.7 1,283 1.9
Washington 8,868 1.8 7,673 1.9 1,195 1.7
West Virginia 3,680 0.8 2,969 0.7 711 1.0
Wisconsin 6,724 1.4 5,793 1.4 931 1.3
Wyoming 496 0.1 414 0.1 82 0.1
Outlying areas  
Puerto Rico 15,105 3.1 13,293 3.2 1,812 2.6
Other a 95 (L) 73 (L) 22 (L)
Foreign countries 800 0.2 595 0.1 205 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 2021
Diagnostic group Total, all ages Under 35 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–FRA
  Number
Total 414,311 2,376 4,552 10,843 22,267 52,839 113,490 207,944
Congenital anomalies 203 4 4 8 20 38 49 80
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 4,871 30 45 97 242 615 1,332 2,510
Infectious and parasitic diseases 1,982 13 20 56 91 243 565 994
Injuries 25,866 351 543 1,058 1,759 3,601 6,687 11,867
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders 59 16 5 6 3 5 8 16
Developmental disorders 83 8 5 3 7 11 25 24
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 29 (X) 3 4 8 (X) 6 3
Intellectual disorders 2,659 31 49 88 143 411 753 1,184
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 30,338 230 393 864 2,036 4,250 8,266 14,299
Neurocognitive disorders 8,258 96 214 375 624 1,211 2,144 3,594
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 3,929 140 132 203 287 590 959 1,618
Other mental disorders 9,101 155 288 562 816 1,524 2,374 3,382
Neoplasms 5,142 102 113 179 293 644 1,333 2,478
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 285 9 9 17 24 37 72 117
Circulatory system 11,963 44 101 244 494 1,344 3,174 6,562
Digestive system 2,039 29 47 91 118 275 526 953
Genitourinary system 2,560 85 92 132 242 446 660 903
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 271,387 655 1,916 5,664 12,895 33,089 75,631 141,537
Nervous system and sense organs 22,678 301 452 922 1,570 3,134 6,052 10,247
Respiratory system 5,596 23 32 81 201 580 1,510 3,169
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 390 6 12 20 29 48 90 185
Other 332 (X) 5 13 17 (X) 75 166
Unknown 4,561 42 72 156 348 688 1,199 2,056
  Percent
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Congenital anomalies (L) 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 (L) (L)
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1.2 1.3 1.0 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2
Infectious and parasitic diseases 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5
Injuries 6.2 14.8 11.9 9.8 7.9 6.8 5.9 5.7
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders (L) 0.7 0.1 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L)
Developmental disorders (L) 0.3 0.1 (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified (L) (X) 0.1 (L) (L) (X) (L) (L)
Intellectual disorders 0.6 1.3 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.6
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 7.3 9.7 8.6 8.0 9.1 8.0 7.3 6.9
Neurocognitive disorders 2.0 4.0 4.7 3.5 2.8 2.3 1.9 1.7
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 0.9 5.9 2.9 1.9 1.3 1.1 0.8 0.8
Other mental disorders 2.2 6.5 6.3 5.2 3.7 2.9 2.1 1.6
Neoplasms 1.2 4.3 2.5 1.7 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Circulatory system 2.9 1.9 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2
Digestive system 0.5 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Genitourinary system 0.6 3.6 2.0 1.2 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 65.5 27.6 42.1 52.2 57.9 62.6 66.6 68.1
Nervous system and sense organs 5.5 12.7 9.9 8.5 7.1 5.9 5.3 4.9
Respiratory system 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Other 0.1 (X) 0.1 0.1 0.1 (X) 0.1 0.1
Unknown 1.1 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.3 1.1 1.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Workers' Compensation and Public Disability Benefit file, 100 percent data.
NOTE: FRA = full retirement age; (L) = less than 0.05 percent; (X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 34. Distribution of workers who have filed, by diagnostic group and sex, December 2021
Diagnostic group Total Men Women
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All disabled workers 414,311 100.0 251,365 100.0 162,946 100.0
Congenital anomalies 203 (L) 115 (L) 88 0.1
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 4,871 1.2 2,592 1.0 2,279 1.4
Infectious and parasitic diseases 1,982 0.5 1,588 0.6 394 0.2
Injuries 25,866 6.2 19,365 7.7 6,501 4.0
Mental disorders  
Autism spectrum disorders 59 (L) 43 (L) 16 (L)
Developmental disorders 83 (L) 50 (L) 33 (L)
Childhood and adolescent disorders not elsewhere classified 29 (L) 19 (L) 10 (L)
Intellectual disorders 2,659 0.6 2,011 0.8 648 0.4
Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders 30,338 7.3 14,058 5.6 16,280 10.0
Neurocognitive disorders 8,258 2.0 6,123 2.4 2,135 1.3
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 3,929 0.9 2,598 1.0 1,331 0.8
Other mental disorders 9,101 2.2 4,675 1.9 4,426 2.7
Neoplasms 5,142 1.2 2,687 1.1 2,455 1.5
Diseases of the—  
Blood and blood-forming organs 285 0.1 151 0.1 134 0.1
Circulatory system 11,963 2.9 8,661 3.4 3,302 2.0
Digestive system 2,039 0.5 1,241 0.5 798 0.5
Genitourinary system 2,560 0.6 1,710 0.7 850 0.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 271,387 65.5 166,010 66.0 105,377 64.7
Nervous system and sense organs 22,678 5.5 11,543 4.6 11,135 6.8
Respiratory system 5,596 1.4 3,333 1.3 2,263 1.4
Skin and subcutaneous tissue 390 0.1 193 0.1 197 0.1
Other 332 0.1 155 0.1 177 0.1
Unknown 4,561 1.1 2,444 1.0 2,117 1.3
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.