Many Americans who have been injured or taken ill and are not able to return to work do not understand that they can often apply social security disability to the payments that they are already receiving, in the form of Medicare or Medicaid, or as workers' compensation or other private disability payments. Oftentimes, if an employee is injured on the job, his or her company is responsible for paying any necessary medical bills and may even be required to pay for lost wages at work. These payments may reduce an individual's overall social security benefits, but private payments, such as a pension or insurance are not counted.