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Will a Personal Injury Settlement Cause Me to Lose My Social Security Disability Benefits?

Personal injuries can be life changing, affecting everything from your health to your ability to work. If you receive social security disability benefits, that can be very helpful towards some of your expenses. With a complicated approval process, however, there are a lot of requirements you must meet before you can receive your benefits. If you’ve become injured through the negligence of someone else, like in a car accident, for example, you also have to deal with the added stress of the aftermath of that accident.

If you are filing a lawsuit against the person who caused your injury, you may be worried that a settlement will affect your ability to obtain disability benefits. This can be really scary, especially if you rely on your benefits for your everyday life expenses. While a personal injury settlement can be a large amount of money, you may need to weigh the benefits of receiving such a settlement against your current disability situation.

If you at all have questions about a situation like this, don’t hesitate to reach out to a personal injury lawyer who understands these types of claims or even a specialized social security disability attorney. Finding someone who can help you navigate this process will save a lot of stress and anxiety.

 

What Will Happen to My Social Security Disability Benefits if I Receive a Personal Injury Settlement?

There’s a joke amongst lawyers that the answer is always, “That depends,” and unfortunately that’s the situation here. Usually, in these instances, it depends on which program you are using to receive your benefits, either SSDI or SSI.

If you are using SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), a settlement from a personal injury lawsuit shouldn’t affect your benefits outside a couple of rare circumstances.

However, the size of your settlement may be affected by the fact that you are already on a disability program. This likely means you aren’t working as much as you otherwise would be, so the amount of damages for lost future earnings will be less.

As the lawyers at Cohen & Cohen can explain, the defendant in a personal injury claim will also likely try to blame your injury on your pre-existing condition, which is why it’s very important to get medical documentation of your injury. Make sure you visit a doctor immediately after the accident to examine you thoroughly for any injuries.

 

If you need the help of an attorney to navigate these waters, don’t hesitate to reach out right away. Many firms offer free consultations for these matters and are here to assist you.

More Information

Are you in need of a disability lawyer? Are you seeking Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or are experiencing an injury or illness? Contact Lowery Law Group at info@lowerylegal.com or call (843) 991-0733. There is no fee for a free consultation regarding your claim. Lowery Law Group is experienced in handling cases in South Carolina as well as Georgia.