When Do Social Security Disability (SSDI) Benefits Begin?

Is There a Waiting Period for Social Security Disability Benefits – When Do SSDI Benefits Begin?

In almost all cases, if the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefits check. This means that you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date SSA concludes that your disability began.

For example, if Social Security decides that your disability began on February 15th, your initial payment would be for August and you would receive the payment in September because the Social Security Administration pays benefits in the month after the month for which the benefits are due. There is no waiting period if you are disabled because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and you are approved for SSDI benefits on or after July 23, 2020.

I Heard About Back Pay, What is it, and how is it different from Retroactive Pay for SSDI Claims?

Back Pay is the money SSA owes you because of their delays in processing your claim. In most cases, this means that SSA pays you as of the date of your application (if you were eligible for the benefits on that date) until your application is approved and you begin receiving your checks. SSA pays back so that you are not penalized because of the lengthy time it takes to process many claims, including applications, reconsideration, and ALJ hearings.

What is Retroactive Pay For an SSDI Claim?

SSDI Retroactive Pay is payable if you apply and are disabled before the date of your SSDI applications. You will receive Retroactive Pay for up to one year before the date of your application, assuming that you were eligible for benefits as of that date.

How Much Back Pay and Retroactive Pay Can I Receive?

You can receive a maximum of one year’s benefits as Retroactive Pay. This means that you must be disabled for 17 months or more before your application date (because of the mandatory five-month waiting period). On the other hand, there is no limit to SSDI Back Pay. In other words, if it takes five years for SSA to approve your benefits application, you are entitled to receive Back Pay for the five years since you applied. While we cannot change the delays in processing claims, we like to assure our clients that they receive all the money they are eligible for, no matter how long the process takes.

Still Have Questions? Get Answers and A Free Consultation.

Our firm welcomes people from the greater Philadelphia area, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and nearby areas. To arrange a free consultation to discuss Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits, contact us at (610) 446-3457, click here to send us an email, or fill out the form below.