Workers’ compensation and employer-sponsored short-term disability (STD) benefits are separate programs that may overlap; workers’ comp covers only on-the-job injuries or illnesses under South Carolina law, while STD typically covers any illness or injury that prevents you from working, as defined by your employer’s private insurance policy. If you qualify for both, you may receive STD while your workers’ comp claim is being processed, but many STD policies include coordination-of-benefits clauses that reduce STD payments or require reimbursement of overlapping amounts later, as there is no automatic state-mandated offset in South Carolina for private STD and workers’ comp. The exact interaction depends on your specific STD policy language, and our Beaufort attorneys can review your policy, coordinate claims, and help you maximize your combined benefits.