Trusted Workers’ Compensation Attorney Serving Pennsylvania Injured Workers
Paula Robinson, Esq. Of Counsel

Can You Collect Workers’ Comp and Short-Term Disability at the Same Time?

Dealing with an injury that keeps you away from work creates real stress — both physical and financial. Short-term disability benefits can provide financial support during your recovery. But if you got hurt while doing your job, you might be wondering if you can receive both short-term disability and workers’ compensation benefits at the same time. After all, both types of benefits help replace lost wages when you can’t work due to an injury or illness.

How Short-Term Disability Insurance Works With Workers’ Comp

Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income when you temporarily can’t work due to a medical condition. This coverage may come through your employer or a private policy you purchased. The key difference between workers’ compensation benefits and short-term disability is that short-term disability covers conditions whether they happened at work or not.

Workers’ compensation benefits specifically cover injuries and illnesses that occur on the job or due to work duties. These benefits include medical care coverage and wage replacement while you recover. The good news is that, in many cases, you can receive both types of benefits, but there are some important things to know about how they work together.

Your short-term disability policy may reduce your payments by the amount you receive in workers’ comp benefits. This prevents you from collecting more in total benefits than your regular wages. Check your specific policy details or speak with an attorney to find out how your benefits coordinate.

Can You Get Disability and Workers’ Comp?

There are several scenarios where collecting both workers’ compensation and short-term social security disability benefits can occur:

If your workers’ comp claim gets denied, but you have short-term disability coverage, you can file for those benefits while appealing the workers’ comp denial. This helps prevent gaps in your income during the appeals process.

Some workplace injuries may qualify for both benefits programs initially. Your short-term disability can kick in right away while your claim gets processed and your workers’ compensation payments come in, which sometimes takes several weeks.

You might also receive partial workers’ comp benefits if you can work reduced hours, while short-term disability helps supplement the remaining lost wages up to the policy maximum.

Long-Term Disability and Workers’ Compensation

Similar rules apply when it comes to long-term disability benefits and worker’s comp benefits. Most long-term disability policies will offset their payments by any workers’ compensation benefits you receive. However, long-term disability can provide important extended coverage once workers’ comp benefits end, especially for serious injuries requiring lengthy recovery periods. The Social Security Administration also plays a role here. If you qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI benefits) on top of workers’ compensation, there are specific rules about how these various disability payments coordinate together.

Important Factors That Impact Your Benefits

Several key elements determine your ability to collect multiple benefits:

  • Your specific short-term disability policy terms and conditions outline how it handles workers’ compensation claims. Some policies completely exclude work-related injuries, while others allow coordinated benefits.
  • The timing of your disability claim filing matters. Starting your short-term disability claim promptly helps avoid gaps in income, even if you also pursue a workers’ compensation claim.
  • The nature and severity of your workplace injury affect which benefits you qualify for. More serious injuries often lead to longer benefit periods and may qualify for multiple programs.
  • Documentation from your medical providers about your injury, treatment plan, and work restrictions helps support claims for both worker’s comp benefits and disability benefits.

Get Help Understanding Your Rights and Options

If you’ve been injured at work and need guidance about workers’ compensation benefits or disability payments in Eastern PA, Paula Robinson can help answer all your questions. She takes time to explain every detail about coordinating different benefit programs after a workplace injury.

As someone certified as a specialist in workers’ compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law (as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court), Paula provides the expertise to handle even complex disability claims. Contact her office today to discuss your situation and learn more about maximizing your available benefits. She’s always ready to help.