# SSR 72-50: SSR 72-50: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS UPON RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS -- DIFFERENT IMPAIRMENTS > Federal · Rulings · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_72_50 ## Section - **Citation:** SSR 72-50 - **Heading:** SSR 72-50: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS UPON RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS -- DIFFERENT IMPAIRMENTS - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Rulings - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Social Security Rulings / DI / Worker's Compensation / SSR 72-50 ## Text 20 CFR 404.408 SSR 72-50 Section 224 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 424) provides that a claimant's disability insurance benefit must be reduced in accordance with the formula set out therein, if he receives periodic workmen's compensation payments or a lump-sum payment as a substitute for periodic payments. In December 1967 an insured individual, R, suffers a knee injury in the course of his employment. As the result thereof he became entitled to periodic workmen's compensation payments under State law. After a brief recovery period R returned to work on a full time basis. His right to the State payment was unaffected by his employment and, in fact, he continued to be in receipt of such payments. In June, 1969,, a heart attack forced R to cease working. Payments for the prior injury continued at the same rate, with no increase resulting from the heart impairment. Pursuant to an application for disability insurance benefits, the Social Security Administration determined that R became disabled within the meaning of sections 216(i) and 223 of the Social Security Act in June 1969 solely on the basis of his heart disorder, and that he was not disabled, for social security purposes, prior to that date. The question raised is whether the reduction of disability insurance benefits required by section 224 of the Act applies only where the individual's disability insurance benefits and his workmen's compensation payments are based on the same injury or whether such reduction also applies where a disability insurance beneficiary simultaneously receives workmen's compensation payments which are based on a different impairment. uction of disability insurance benefits required by section 224 of the Act applies only where the individual's disability insurance benefits and his workmen's compensation payments are based on the same injury or whether such reduction also applies where a disability insurance beneficiary simultaneously receives workmen's compensation payments which are based on a different impairment. From the language of the statutory provision, it will be noted that section 224 simply requires a reduction in title II benefits based on disability or account of ". . . periodic benefits for a total or partial disability (whether or not permanent) . . . payable (and actually paid) to . . . [a title II disability beneficiary] under . . . [a] workmen's compensation law or plan . . ." Nothing in the section directs that the workmen's compensation award and the finding of disability under title II must be based upon the same impairment for offset to be required. Rather, it seems the Congressional interest in enacting section 224 was in seeing that disabled workers did not receive combined title II and workmen's compensation benefits (tax free) in excess of the amount earned prior to becoming disabled. Cf., S.Rep. No. 404, 89th Cong., 1st Sess. 13, 100, 260; Lofty v. Richardson , 440 F.2d 1144 (6th Cir., 1971); cert. denied , 404 U.S. 985 (1971). This is evidenced by paragraph 224(a)(5) of the Act which authorizes offset only insofar as the total of title II benefits based on disability and workmen's compensation benefits "* * * exceeds that higher of * * * 80 per centum of * * * average earnings' * * *." From this language it does not appear that Congress intended that the section 224 offset would apply only in instances where the title II disability benefit and workmen's compensation benefit resulted from the same impairment. of title II benefits based on disability and workmen's compensation benefits "* * * exceeds that higher of * * * 80 per centum of * * * average earnings' * * *." From this language it does not appear that Congress intended that the section 224 offset would apply only in instances where the title II disability benefit and workmen's compensation benefit resulted from the same impairment. Furthermore, there exist basic differences between the respective programs. Generally speaking workmen's compensation is payable for partial or total incapacity resulting from an injury arising out of and in the course of employment. E.g., G. L. Mass., Ch. 152, secs 26, 34, 34A, 35. However, title II disability benefits may be paid whenever an insured individual, who otherwise qualifies therefor, is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 42 U.S.C. 423(d)(1)(A); 20 CFR 404.1501(a)(1)(i). The title II program does not require that the impairment causing the incapacity be incurred in the course of employment. Consequently, in any particular situation, depending on the facts involved, the work-related injury may be: (1) the sole basis for a finding of disability under title II, (2) one of several conditions which when taken in combination may have resulted in such a finding, or tle II program does not require that the impairment causing the incapacity be incurred in the course of employment. Consequently, in any particular situation, depending on the facts involved, the work-related injury may be: (1) the sole basis for a finding of disability under title II, (2) one of several conditions which when taken in combination may have resulted in such a finding, or (3) (as here) have had no bearing on the title II determination. It is unlikely that Congress would have intended to distinguish between the various situations for section 224 purposes without including language in section 224 specifically pinpointing these distinctions. Accordingly, it is held that the section 224 reduction provision is applicable where the claimant was receiving periodic workmen's compensation payments while entitled to title II disability insurance benefits, even though the former were based upon a impairment different from the latter. ## Nearby sections - [SSR 70-45c SSR 70-45c: SECTION 224. -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION UPON RECEIPT OF LUMP-SUM PAYMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_70_45c.md) - [SSR 71-15a SSR 71-15a: SECTION 224 -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS -- COMPROMISE LUMP-SUM SETTLEMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_71_15a.md) - [SSR 71-34c SSR 71-34c: SECTION 224(a). -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION FOR RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION -- LONGSHOREMEN'S AND HARBOR WORKER'S COMPENSATION ACT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_71_34c.md) - [SSR 71-45c SSR 71-45c: SECTION 224(a) (42 U.S.C.A. 424(a)). -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION FOR RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION -- "REDEMPTION SETTLEMENT" UNDER MICHIGAN STATUTE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_71_45c.md) - [SSR 72-37c SSR 72-37c: SECTION 224(a) (42 U.S.C. 424(a)). -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION UPON RECEIPT OF STATE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS -- CONSTITUTIONALITY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_72_37c.md) - [SSR 72-50 SSR 72-50: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS UPON RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS -- DIFFERENT IMPAIRMENTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_72_50.md) - [SSR 74-21c SSR 74-21c: SECTION 224(a) (42 U.S.C. 424(a)). -- DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION FOR RECEIPT OF STATE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS -- "SPECIFIC LOSS" BENEFIT UNDER MICHIGAN STATUTE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_74_21c.md) - [SSR 76-34c SSR 76-34c: SECTION 224(a) AND (b) (42 U.S.C. 424(a) and (b)) -- DISABILITY -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS DUE TO RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_76_34c.md) - [SSR 79-20 SSR 79-20: TITLE II: INTERRUPTED WORKERS' COMPENSATION OFFSET](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_79_20.md) - [SSR 80-14 SSR 80-14: TITLE II: EFFECTIVE DATE OF REDUCTION IN DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS WHEN WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS ARE INCREASED](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_80_14.md) - [SSR 81-20 SSR 81-20: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS -- LUMP-SUM PAYMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS PAID INTO AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_81_20.md) - [SSR 81-32 SSR 81-32: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS -- ANNUITY AWARDED IN A WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_81_32.md) - [SSR 81-33 SSR 81-33: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) DISABILITY -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS DUE TO RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION -- TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LUMP-SUM SETTLEMENTS UNDER IOWA LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_81_33.md) - [SSR 82-4 SSR 82-4: SECTION 224 (42 U.S.C. 424) DISABILITY -- REDUCTION OF BENEFITS DUE TO RECEIPT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION -- PAYMENTS UNDER THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S BENEFIT LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_82_4.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_72_50. 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