If your claim for Social Security Disability benefits has been approved, you’ll want to make sure you get all the Social Security disability benefits back pay you’re entitled to.
When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, it may take several months for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to make a decision in your case. If your claim is approved, you will qualify for Social Security disability benefits back pay. This means you’ll be paid for the benefits you were owed from the day you submitted your application — your Established Onset Date — to the time your claim was approved.
How Much Are SSDI Back Payments?
How much back pay will you receive? The actual amount varies from case to case. Once your claim has been approved, you will be sent an award letter as notification. Besides telling you how much you’ll be receiving each month in benefits, it will also tell you the amount of back pay you are owed and when you can expect to receive it.
Unfortunately, there’s no set timeframe for receiving your back pay. It could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. If it’s been longer than a few months and you still haven’t received your back pay, contact the SSA or your attorney.
Back payments are usually paid out in one lump sum. However, if the amount is too large, the SSA will split the payments into three installments. All SSDI payments are now made by direct deposit, so you will have to have a bank account to receive your payment.
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The SSA’s Five Month Waiting Period Could Affect the Amount of Back Pay You Receive
One thing to keep in mind when figuring out how much back pay you are owed is the SSA’s 5 month waiting period after your claim has been approved before you can start receiving benefits. The 5 month period begins from your “Established Onset Date” — the date the SSA determines that your disability began. You will not receive any benefits for 5 months from that date.
So, if it takes only 5 months for your claim to be approved, you won’t receive any back pay for the 5 months you were awaiting a decision. If it takes 10 months to get your claim approved, you would receive 5 months of back pay.
Back Payments vs. Retroactive Payments
Back payments aren’t the same as retroactive payments. Back payments are paid for the period of time between when you applied for benefits and your claim was approved. Retroactive payments are made from the time you became disabled — your “Alleged Onset Date” — to the time you applied for benefits. You can receive retroactive payments for your disability — up to 12 months before you applied for benefits — provided you can show that you were disabled during that time.
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Get All the Social Security Disability Benefits You Are Due
If a disability has made it impossible for you to work, the board certified Social Security Disability lawyers at Marc Whitehead & Associates are here to help you get the disability benefits to which you are entitled. At Marc Whitehead & Associates, we manage the entire Social Security disability benefits application and appeals process so you can focus on taking care of yourself and your family.
Marc Whitehead & Associates are based in Houston, Texas, and serve clients all over the nation. Call us today, 800-562-9830, to schedule a free, initial consultation with one of our highly experienced Social Security Disability attorneys. We are eager to review your claim, answer any questions you may have, and discuss your options for moving forward. Our number one goal is to help you get the total cash benefits you may be entitled to.
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