Disgraced former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. is claiming $138,400 a year from the federal government in benefit checks, it has emerged.

The former Democrat politician and son of Reverend Jesse Jackson, 51, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2013 for taking $750,000 from his own campaign funds.

Now, details of his benefits package - which he gets for bipolar disorder and depression - have emerged, leaving critics questioning how he is eligible for the money, the Chicago Tribune has reported.

Ex-Democrat Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is claiming $138,400 a year in workers' compensation and disability payments because bipolar disorder and depression stop him from working

Jackson, seen here exiting court after pleading guilty to spending $750,000 of his campaign's cash in 2013, served 2.5 years in prison. Critics wonder if he should be entitled to the cash

The details of Jackson's payments emerged in divorce proceedings, which wife Sandi Stevens, began last year in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Most of the money - around $100,000 - comes from workers' compensation and is not taxed, Jackson's attorney, attorney Barry Schatz, said.

The rest are Social Security Disability payments that he receives because of his mental health problems, which caused him to take leave from Congress in 2102, and may be taxed.

The figures emerged after his wife, Sandi Stevens, began divorce proceedings. The money is paid out to those who develop illnesses or injury while on the job

According to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, workers can be given disability compensation 'due to personal injury or disease sustained while in the performance of duty.'

But for someone to receive compensation from the federal government for bipolar disorder is extremely unusual, said Ari Wilkenfeld, a Washington employment lawyer.

His firm, Wilkenfeld, Herendeen & Atkinson, often represents federal employees, but he says he's never seen a case where someone has claimed for the disorder.

'What's remarkable here is by his getting workers' comp, it appears that Congressman Jackson's attorneys have convinced the government that his bipolar disorder was created by the rigors of being a member of Congress,' he said.

Pete Sepp, who heads the nonpartisan National Taxpayers Union in Washington, was displeased by Jackson's haul.

He said the case shows 'the system is still finding a way to take care of ex-lawmakers convicted of crimes and often in better fashion ... than many Americans with lesser financial means could expect.

'Once again, the average taxpaying citizen is left to wonder if justice was done for them.'

Schatz was quick to defend his client, saying that Jackson was 'not a slacker,' had 'earned' the benefits and is entitled to them 'as a matter of law'.

'I can't give you an explanation as to how and why' Jackson developed bipolar disorder as a result of his work, he said.

'I can tell you that medical experts have diagnosed him, and as a result of the diagnosis, he is entitled to disability payments.

'If someone had a choice whether they wanted to be bipolar or not, I don't know of anybody that would want to choose to be bipolar, no matter what they were paid.'

Jackson's dad is Rev Jesse Jackson (pictured). One lawyer has questioned how being a Congressman led to bipolar disorder but Jackson's lawyer says the claims are legit

Jackson is receiving the maximum amount given to someone suffering a temporary, total disability.

He was being paid $174,000 when he resigned his position, and started off on $133,600 in 1995 as a junior Congressman.

Jackson took a leave of absence due to mental illness before his resignation from office and subsequent imprisonment.

His workers' compensation benefit statement gives June 1, 2012, as his 'date of injury,' although House records show that he case 72 separate roll-call votesfrom June 1 to 8, 2012.

He did not miss a single vote, records say, before going on leave due to 'exhaustion'.

The figures emerged after District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ordered Jackson to pay child support for the children he had with Stevens: Jessica, 16, and Tre, 13.

He told the court that his monthly expenses are $1,608 per month. Sandi Jackson says her monthly expenses are $11,030, she has no income and is in $35,000 debt.

Jackson was ordered to pay $1,529 a month in temporary child support as of March.

The ex-Representative was imprisoned after it emerged that he had spent around $750,000 in campaign funds on a series of luxury items.

The 3,000 purchases included a fedora that once belonged to Michael Jackson and multiple cashmere capes.

He was released in September last year.