Can a Personal Injury Settlement Affect My Disability Benefits?
Personal injury settlements are received as a result of someone being injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence.
These types of accidents may include:
- Car Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Slip-and-Falls
- Dog Bites
- Defective Products
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Compensation can include money for your injuries, medical bills and pain and suffering. Pursuing a personal injury claim after an accident can provide you with the money you need to move forward.
40+ years of experience from strong, knowledgeable, compassionate attorneys.
Start A Free EvaluationDisability Benefits and Your Personal Injury Claim.
If you are a recipient of disability benefits, you may wonder how a personal injury settlement can affect those benefits.
In this blog we will explain how a personal injury settlement can affect certain recipients of disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration offers two primary types of disability benefits to individuals.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a low-income program that provides monthly benefits to disabled individuals who meet certain low-income requirements.
The Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSD or SSDI) is a monthly benefit program for disabled individuals who have worked and paid into the program.
If you are receiving SSD benefits and receive a personal injury settlement, your benefits will not be affected. This is because this program does not have income requirements, it is based off your work history and work credits.
However, since you are already receiving disability benefits, this means you were not working at the time of your accident. Therefore, any personal injury settlement would not include compensation forany lost wages or future earning capacity.
Recipients of SSI can see a reduction in their benefits or lose them entirely.
Supplemental Security Income is a need-based disability program and is based off your financial status, not your work history.
When you report your income to the Social Security Administration, they may find you have too much countable income and you will no longer qualify for benefits.
However, there are other legal solutions that can help you avoid losing your SSI benefits. An experienced personal injury or Social Security Disability attorney can help you understand your options.
We know you’re hurting. We can help. Free case evaluations, home and hospital visits.
Contact Us Now For HelpGetting Help with a Disability or Injury
If you have been injured in an accident or need help getting disability benefits, contact our firm today.
Call our attorneys at Berger and Green at 412-661-1400 for a free no obligation consultation to discuss your claim for disability benefits or to pursue a personal injury claim.