What if an injury prevents you from working?

Employees in Texas who are injured on the job have a number of concerns, and the top of the list usually relates to paying bills, especially if is an injury that prevents them from working for a long time. To help out those who have a disability due to a workplace injury, the government has a social security program that can help for a certain amount of time.

According to the Social Security Administration, injured workers need to meet certain criteria in order to qualify for disability benefits. The employee needs to have worked in jobs that are eligible for social security, and for a minimum amount of time. The injury needs to meet the disability definition, which means the employee is unable to perform the same job as before, is unable to work in another position and will be unable to work for at least 12 months. Those who meet the criteria receive money on a monthly basis, and these payments continue until the worker is able to return to a paying position.

According to the University of Texas, recipients of disability benefits are also eligible for Medicare after two years. For those who want to get back to work as quickly as possible, the social security program also provides vocational assistance. This includes wheelchairs, software for those who cannot hear, transportation vehicles and one-handed typewriters. Workers who are able to get a job also continue to receive social security payments for a minimum of nine months as they adjust to the new position and tasks.