Clients who have been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) often ask us how long it will take before they receive their first payment. If you have been approved for benefits, congratulations—many people who do not seek legal representation face hurdles during the benefit process!
You should know that if the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves your initial application, there is a five-month waiting period from when your disability began before you will begin to receive SSDI payments.
Typically, you will receive your first payment on your sixth full month of disability. The SSA pays benefits in the month following the month for which they are due. This is confusing, we know. Nevertheless, essentially what this means is that a benefit due for May 2015 would be paid to you in June 2015.
Additionally, you should know that if you went through the appeals process, as many people do, the SSA should pay you based on the date you applied for disability benefits and the date you were approved for benefits. This is called back pay. When determining back pay, the SSA uses several criteria including the date at which you were determined to be disabled, as well as your initial application date and the waiting period, which is the period that takes place between when you apply and when you can start collecting payments.
One of the benefits of working with an attorney is that all of this information should be provided to you if you request it. You can always check with our office to determine where your application or payment status stands.
Speaking to an Attorney about Social Security Benefits
If you are interested in applying for SSDI or if you have questions about the process, you can visit our FAQ page. An attorney can help you with this process, which can be complex, and answer any questions that you may have.
Keep in mind, you should never let news about decision delays in the news dissuade you if you are applying for SSDI. You may be entitled to back payments, as well as other forms of assistance.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys
Troutman Touts: If your initial SSDI application has been denied, you have 60 days to file for reconsideration.
