Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that pays medical expenses and lost wages to employees who are injured while doing their job. All employers in California are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation has nothing to do with the SSA. The injuries and medical conditions covered by workers’ compensation are different than those covered under SSDI and SSI. For example, it’s not necessary to be “totally disabled” in order to receive workers’ compensation insurance.
Assuming you’re eligible, you can receive workers’ compensation benefits and SSDI or SSI benefits at the same time. However, the total amount of these benefits can’t exceed 80% of your average earnings before you became disabled.
If your workers’ compensation benefits and social security disability benefits exceed the 80% threshold, the SSA (in most states) will reduce the amount of disability benefits you receive until your benefits total 80%. In some states, your workers’ compensation benefits will be reduced instead.