Unemployment Benefits
Generally, you cannot receive unemployment benefits and Social Security disability benefits at the same time. If you are disabled under the social security disability definition, you are claiming that you are unable to work because of a disability. If you are applying for, or receiving, unemployment benefits you should be actively seeking employment – meaning that you are not disabled.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Disability (indemnity) payments that you receive from workers’ compensation and/or another public disability payment will likely reduce you and your family’s social security benefits. Your Social Security disability benefits will be reduced so that the combined amount of the social Security benefit plus the amount of your workers’ compensation and/or public disability benefit does not exceed 80% of your average current earnings.
Examples of public disability benefits include civil service disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits which are based on disability.
Private disability benefits, from a disability benefit policy which you have purchased, do not effect your social security disability benefit amount. However, disability policies purchased by your employer often require you to apply for Social Security disability benefits. These policies usually state that the amount you receive under the policy will be reduced by the amount you receive from Social Security if and when you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.