I am totally not knowledgeable about these things, so if someone can explain the difference to me about workman's compensation and disability I would appreciate. I worked for a large well-known retail store here in NJ for over 11 years. I fell and hurt my leg and knee at the job in the course of doing my work. I filled out an accident report, but did not immediately see a doctor, thought I would be okay in a few days. Wrong, the pain kept getting worse most likely because I stood all day. The job paid for the eventual MRI and doctor's appointments and treatments. Nothing helped, eventually had surgery and they put me on workman's compensation. I had complications that went on and on, physical therapy, shots in the knee. draining of the knee, etc. They held my job for a year, but never offered a sit down position or anything other than what I had. The year came they fired me, even though I was not released by the doctor (of their choosing) for another 3 1/2 months, at which time my WC benefits ended. Applied for Unemployment, was denied the reason being I was unable to return to work at the time of my termination. Well no kidding! Have applied for SS and have been denied. I thought that in the interval from when I was terminated (August 03, up till now) I would be entitled to collect. Some person from SS did call on Friday, I was not home, left a message with my daughter to call him on Monday, his question was if I was seeing a doctor. I am not because workman's comp benefits ended and I could not keep up the payments on my health benefits on my own. As I mentioned I have already been denied SS, so I don't know why this person is calling me. Could it be reconsidered?