Can You Get Disability and Unemployment Benefits?

By Michelle Shvarts
Principal Attorney

When you cannot work because of a disability, it is important to determine how to maximize the benefits that are available to you. When you are trying to figure out how to get as much income as possible, you may wonder whether you can get both disability benefits and unemployment benefits at the same time.

The law can be tricky regarding different ways to maximize your benefits when you are disabled so you should strongly consider reaching out to a Los Angeles disability benefits lawyer to help you understand the types of income you can receive. An attorney can help you determine if you may be able to get both disability benefits and unemployment benefits.

Obtaining Disability Benefits and Unemployment Benefits

Technically, there are no express prohibitions in the law that would stop you from obtaining both disability benefits and unemployment benefits at the same time.

However, these different benefits programs are intended for different purposes. Unemployment benefits are supposed to provide income while you are out of work and looking for a job, while disability benefits are supposed to be available to you if you are too disabled to work at any job for which you are qualified.

You could, however, obtain unemployment benefits and disability income if you are too disabled to work at any job for which you are qualified but you are still actively searching for some type of job that you could do despite your disability.

A Los Angeles disability benefits lawyer can help you to determine if it is possible for you to obtain both disability and unemployment benefits given the specific circumstances of your situation. Contact an attorney for help as soon as possible to try to maximize the benefits you receive when you are disabled. 

About the Author
Ms. Shvarts is the managing attorney for Disability Advocates Group. She opened Disability Advocates Group to assist individuals who became disabled and unable to work to obtain the benefits they need and deserve.  Ms. Shvarts and the rest of the team at Disability Advocates Group are dedicated to assisting individuals obtain Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.