Does my on-the-job injury fall under workers compensation or SSDI?

Workers comp disability is a type of protection for workers. If you are injured on the job, your injury is covered by the workers comp disability insurance that your employer has through your state’s program. Social Security Disability Insurance does not have any specific requirement of where the injury occurred but rather looks at the specific circumstances in the case.

When Workers Comp Covers a Claim

On-the-job-injuries are those that happen when you are working. As an hourly employee, an injury that occurs while you are punched in on employer property will qualify. For salaried employees, you may be engaging in work that relates to the employment. In this case, the workers compensation claims you make are likely to be approved as such.

Social Security disability insurance is provided to workers who have contributed enough into the Social Security program during their working years. If you meet the qualifications of this type of insurance, Social Security will pay you based on the amount you have contributed.

Ask the following questions to determine if the injury is workers’ comp related:

• Did the injury occur while on the clock?
• Did workers’ compensation deny your claim? If so, you may qualify for SSDI.
• Did the injury occur when you were not performing work related tasks?

In all of these situations, it is best to hire an attorney to help you to get your injury covered. In many cases, an attorney can help you to avoid denials from workers’ compensation or Social Security disability insurance.