If you are receiving social security benefits it will be necessary to determine whether a legal recovery can impact those benefits. An individual receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that recovers money in a personal injury claim may have their benefits affected since SSI is a needs-based program. If someone obtains a recovery from a personal injury claim and they are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) it should not have an impact since those programs are based on previous income/employment.
The impact of a recovery associated with a personal injury claim can differ from the impact associated with a recovery in a workers’ compensation claim. If someone obtains a recovery from a workers’ compensation claim their social security benefits, no matter which program, may be subject to offsets. These are very complicated legal issues and there can be different impacts on social security benefits depending on the type of claim, recovery, and other factors.
With attorneys that handle personal injury, workers’ compensation, and social security, Meyer, Puklich, Merriam & Johnson is uniquely situated to provide expert representation to our clients with these types of complicated legal issues. If you need assistance, contact our law firm at 952-249-0111 for a free consultation.