Return to Videos No, you don't have to be injured at work to be eligible for Social Security disability. That’s more like a workers compensation case. Social Security disability is there no matter how your disability arises. It could be a chronic condition. It could be a work-related condition, but no. You don't have to you know wait to be injured at work to file for Social Security disability. If you stop working or are unable to work, and it is a severe injury that you've had on the job, go see to it that you file for Social Security disability because these cases are taking a long time to adjudicate and the earlier you get it filed, the better off you're going to be eventually. Especially if the workers’ compensation carrier is going to try to starve you out, which they often try to do.