Ask Larry

Will My Social Security Benefits Affect Long Term Disability Payments From My Employer?

I am on LTD from my work since 1997. When my ex husband passed away, Social Security granted me the survivor benefit early at age 60 under disability. Can this affect my LTD ? Also, I returned to work recently and it did not work out and my LTD administrator stopped my LTD right away and I think, I may have back payments from them because of recent work activity. I think, they are now putting me under early retirement under their workers comp.

Hi,

Whether or not your Social Security benefits affect the long term disability payments from your employer depends on the terms of the LTD policy. You should probably check with whomever administers the plan.

Disability is not required in order to qualify for reduced surviving divorced spouse's benefits at age 60. I assume you are not receiving Social Security disability benefits on your own work record, although you may want to consider filing for them if you haven't already done so. However, workers compensation payments can sometimes reduce Social Security disability benefits payable on your own record, but would not affect your surviving divorced spousal benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Aug 16 2016 - 10:30am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.