What is the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund?
The SIBTF supports workers who already had a disability and were then injured on the job. The key point is that the earlier disability must have affected your ability to work or earn a living. If it did, and a workplace injury made things worse, the SIBTF may provide financial support for the rest of your life.
These benefits are typically for life, so timing matters. As a rule, you have five years from your work injury — or six months after your permanent disability is resolved, whichever is later — to file. Wait too long and you may be disqualified.
Recent law change
California tightened SIBTF eligibility. The stricter standards described here apply to claims filed on or after July 1, 2020. Claims filed before July 1, 2020 are generally governed by the prior law.
A newer change matters even more for how your case is built. Under a law effective July 13, 2026, your SIBTF claim must be supported by medical evidence gathered during your regular workers' comp case — not by a separate evaluation obtained afterward. In plain terms: the proof for your SIBTF benefits has to be developed while your work-injury case is still open. That's why it's important to have a lawyer looking at SIBTF from the start, so the right medical evidence is in the record before it's too late to get it.
If you're unsure which rules apply to you, contact my office and I'll tell you where your case stands.
Why you need a lawyer for SIBTF claims.
SIBTF claims are complex, and recent legislation made the rules stricter. Many workers' comp attorneys won't handle them. I do. As an Anaheim-based SIBTF attorney, I have a reputation for successfully navigating these claims, and I'm ready to put that experience to work for you.
I understand what these benefits can mean for you and your family, and I'm committed to pursuing every dollar you're entitled to.
Do I qualify?
Your earlier disability must be backed by evidence that existed before your work injury — such as prior medical records or testimony. Documenting it after the fact is no longer enough, which is why it's important to involve a lawyer early, while that record is available.
The fund was created to encourage employers to hire workers with preexisting disabilities without fear of being responsible if the worker is later injured on the job. To qualify, you'll generally need:
- An earlier disability or impairment that affected your earnings or ability to do your job
- A qualifying workplace injury
- A combined permanent disability that meets the statutory thresholds
Meeting each requirement is detailed work, especially now that the standards have tightened. I work daily with California medical evaluators and other experts to build the strongest case for the benefits you may be owed.
Already have a claim in progress? Some earlier claims may still fall under the prior standards — contact my office and I'll tell you where yours stands.
Ready to secure your future?
Call 714-279-8055 or send a message. Don't leave money on the table — your future is worth it. Se habla español.