Citation

Ladd D, Neumark D. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000002728

PMID

36253929

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We examine whether workers who suffer permanently-disabling injuries covered by workers' compensation (WC) end up on SSDI, and whether SSA appears to offset WC payments for permanently-disabling injuries against SSDI benefits, when appropriate.

METHODS: We capture data on WC benefit receipt from the Health and Retirement Stud and link it to SSA data on WC and SSDI recipients to study descriptive information on these questions.

RESULTS: We find that SSA appears to be missing data on WC benefits for a sizable share of recipients of WC benefits, and that the frequency with which SSDI benefits are reduced because of the WC offset seems surprisingly low.

CONCLUSIONS: For a variety of reasons, WC benefits for permanently-disabling injuries may not be appropriately offset against SSDI benefits, possibly shifting the cost of these workplace injuries to SSDI.

Language: en