A few differences between benefit programs

An individual who becomes disabled (in some fashion and to some extent) may possibly, depending on their employment situation turn to any one of a number of disability benefit systems, including federal disability (social security disability and SSI), Veterans disability, or Workers compensation.

All of these systems are quite distinct and different.

The federal social security disability and SSI system awards benefits on the basis of total disability and the benchmark consideration is that an individual's disabling condition must have lasted a full year or be projected to last that long.

Veterans disability, by contrast, allows for percentage ratings, though, to receive monthly disability benefits, a veteran must be rated 30 percent disabled or greater.

Workers compensation is entirely different from either of these systems. Workers compensation is not a government benefit and is not standardized throughout the country. Quite the opposite, workers compensation benefits and the standards for approval differ from state to state, though, like veterans disability, an individual who is not permanently and totally disabled may receive consideration for the degree or extent to which they are disabled.






For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center