# SSR 79-20: SSR 79-20: TITLE II: INTERRUPTED WORKERS' COMPENSATION OFFSET > Federal · Rulings · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_DI_SSR_79_20 ## Section - **Citation:** SSR 79-20 - **Heading:** SSR 79-20: TITLE II: INTERRUPTED WORKERS' COMPENSATION OFFSET - **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 79-20 ## Text (PPD-35) SSR 79-20 PURPOSE: To state the policy regarding the effect of interrupted workers' compensation (WC) offset on statutory increases in Social Security benefits and the requirement that the Social Security Administration be on "notice" of the receipt of WC payments. CITATIONS (AUTHORITY): Social Security Act, sections 224(a)(2) and 224(a)(8); Regulations No. 4, sections 404.408(c)(2)(ii) and 404.408(i). PERTINENT HISTORY: There is no statement of policy providing for the protection or lack of protection of statutory increases in Social Security benefits during a period of interruption in WC offset. Operational personnel have requested formalized policy which will enable them to be assured that cases involving the same set of facts are being processed uniformly. POLICY DIRECTIVE STATEMENT: Where WC payments are interrupted in Disability Insurance Benefit cases because of a break in WC entitlement, offset will be reimposed beginning with the month after the month the Social Security Administration (SSA) receives notice of the new WC entitlement. In such cases, any statutory increases in Social Security benefits which became effective prior to the month offset is reimposed are not protected from the WC offset provisions of the Social Security Act. However, if WC entitlement is continuous, even though WC payments are stopped and resumed (e.g., temporary payments were stopped pending a permanent disability rating), Social Security statutory increases are protected from the first month of offset imposed. h became effective prior to the month offset is reimposed are not protected from the WC offset provisions of the Social Security Act. However, if WC entitlement is continuous, even though WC payments are stopped and resumed (e.g., temporary payments were stopped pending a permanent disability rating), Social Security statutory increases are protected from the first month of offset imposed. The crucial determination to be made is whether the interruption in WC payments represents a "break in entitlement." Determining whether an interruption of WC payments is due to a break in WC entitlement or whether additional payments are contemplated depends upon the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures of individual States. These laws, regulations, policies, and procedures will vary from State to State. Questions regarding their effect in individual States should be referred to the Regional Attorney. Some examples of factors that may be relevant to whether there is or is not a break in WC entitlement in individual States are: An interruption preceding a second WC award, unrelated to the original WC award, is considered to be a break in entitlement. If offset is removed for a reason unrelated to the WC awards, such as a decrease in total family benefits, and later reimposed, benefit increases that become effective during the period of no offset are protected. ## 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_79_20. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.