What is the difference between Social Security disability and workers’ compensation?
The primary difference between Social Security Disability (SSD) and Workers’ Compensation (WC) is the way in which they are funded, as well as what type of benefits they provide. SSD is funded through worker payroll taxes and is provided to those with a qualifying disability which is usually defined as a mental or physical impairment which prevents the person from engaging in their regular work for at least a year. SSD benefits include periodic payments to help cover the costs of medical care, rehabilitation and services related to the disability. WC on the other hand, is funded by employers through insurance premiums and is only available to those who suffer an injury or illness due to a work-related activity or incident. The benefits provided by WC are intended to cover costs such as medical bills, lost wages and other related expenses. Unlike SSD, WC benefits are typically only awarded if the injury or illness is job-related and not due to a pre-existing condition. In California, SSDI and WC are administered by different agencies and have different requirements for eligibility. Generally, a person must be disabled or injured while performing their job duties to qualify for WC. In contrast, SSDI is available to disabled individuals regardless of the cause of their disability.
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