Did you suffer a work injury in Oklahoma that left you with a long-term or permanent disability? If so, you might be wondering, “Can you collect workers’ comp and Social Security at the same time?” The short answer is yes, but the amount you receive from one program could affect the payments you get from the other. A knowledgeable attorney from Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can explain how these benefits interact so you can avoid reductions or delays in benefits.
Can I Receive Social Security Disability Benefits If I’m on Workers’ Compensation in Oklahoma?
Yes. You can receive both workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance payments (SSDI) at the same time in Oklahoma, but your benefit payments could change if you collect both.
Federal law limits how much you can collect from both programs combined. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will reduce your SSDI payments if the combined monthly amount from your SSDI benefits and your workers’ compensation exceeds 80 percent of your average pre-disability earnings. This reduction is called the “workers’ compensation offset.”
Unlike some other states, Oklahoma does not have a “reverse offset,” which means the state does not automatically reduce your weekly workers’ compensation payments if you are also receiving SSDI. Instead, the SSA applies the reduction to your federal disability payments. The offset also applies to lump-sum workers’ compensation settlements if you receive these payments in place of periodic benefits.
However, any compensation you receive that’s specifically designated for medical or legal expenses does not count toward the offset. The purpose of the offset is to prevent the duplication of income benefits while still allowing injured workers to collect support from both programs.
How Workers’ Compensation and Disability Differ from One Another
Workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability serve different purposes. Workers’ compensation benefits exist to provide financial support for job-related injuries or illnesses. They cover things like injury-related medical care, partial wage replacement, and sometimes, rehabilitation for employees who get hurt on the job. You must prove that your injury or condition is directly tied to your employment to be eligible for workers’ comp benefits.
Social Security Disability, by contrast, covers long-term disabilities that prevent a person from performing substantial work, regardless of where or how the condition occurred. It is a federal insurance program funded by payroll taxes. You must show that you have a medical impairment expected to last at least a year or result in your death and that you have earned sufficient work credits to qualify. You earn these work credits by paying Social Security taxes through your wages or self-employment income.
While both programs offer financial support, they apply to different situations. Workers’ comp focuses on short- or medium-term job injuries under state law. SSDI addresses broader, long-term disabilities under federal law. However, some workers qualify for both if their injuries lead to lasting impairments.
How Does Workers’ Comp Affect Social Security Disability Benefits?
Workers’ compensation can affect SSDI through the federal offset rule. If you receive both benefit types, the SSA calculates the sum of your monthly workers’ comp and SSD payments. If that sum exceeds 80 percent of your average earnings from before you became disabled, the SSA will reduce your SSDI until the combined amount is equal to the 80 percent limit.
This rule applies to both periodic workers’ compensation payments and lump-sum settlements that replace periodic benefits. The SSA prorates lump-sum settlements over time to determine how much counts toward the offset, with exclusions for amounts clearly set aside for medical or legal costs.
The offset continues until one set of benefit payments stops, such as when your workers’ compensation payments end, or you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, your SSDI converts to regular Social Security retirement benefits, and the offset no longer applies.
Getting Approved for Workers’ Compensation Payments and Disability Benefits
Getting approved for both workers’ comp and disability benefits requires meeting two different sets of rules. A lawyer can make the process smoother by keeping your claims consistent and complete from the start. They can gather the medical records, employment history, and financial information each agency requires and submit everything in a timely manner. They can also prepare you for medical evaluations and hearings to ensure that your testimony and documentation line up.
If Social Security or your employer’s insurer questions your claim, your attorney can address their concerns with the right legal and medical evidence. They can also appeal denied claims and correct mistakes in earlier filings if necessary. With careful preparation and clear communication, a lawyer can substantially increase your chances of getting approved for both programs.
How Can a Social Security Disability Attorney Help?
Workers’ compensation claims and Social Security Disability claims can get complicated quickly, especially when you’re trying to handle both at the same time. A workers’ compensation and disability attorney can help you protect your benefits and avoid delays or payment issues by doing the following:
- Reviewing your workers’ comp award to determine how it could affect your SSDI benefits
- Gathering medical and employment records that support both of your claims
- Coordinating payment timelines so one claim does not interfere with the other
- Calculating how the federal offset might impact your total benefit amount
- Structuring lump-sum settlements to reduce the impact of the SSDI offset
- Communicating with the SSA about how it categorizes your workers’ comp payments
- Filing or appealing SSDI applications per SSA deadlines and documentation rules
- Refining settlement agreement language to separate medical and legal expenses from income benefits
- Explaining benefit reductions and helping you plan for future changes in payments
- Identifying errors in SSA’s offset calculations and requesting corrections
- Advising you about when to apply for SSDI after a workplace injury
- Coordinating with doctors to document how your condition meets federal disability standards
Contact Our Experienced Oklahoma City Social Security Disability Attorneys Today
If a work injury has left you unable to earn a living, and you need to know whether you can get workers’ comp and disability at the same time, you deserve clear answers about your eligibility for support. The Oklahoma City disability attorneys at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can review your situation and explain how workers’ compensation and Social Security disability benefits could fit together in your case.
Contact us now for your free, no-obligation initial consultation to learn how our team can help you pursue the full benefits you deserve.
This post was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in January 2026.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
