A claimant who is approved for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) must go through a five-month delay before the benefits start. The Social Security Administration withholds five months of benefits before payments start because approval takes so long. Read on to learn about the waiting period and to find out how an attorney for Social Disability in Stevens Point, WI can help a client get through it.
When It Starts
The waiting period begins on the date the claimant’s disability is established. Therefore, the date a person becomes entitled to Social Security benefits does not come until five months after the disability onset date. Consult an attorney for additional advice on the waiting period and its beginning date.
The Waiting Period and the Application Date
In some instances, the entitlement date relates to the application date. The entitlement date must be less than one year before the date of application, which means the onset date has to be less than 17 months before the application date. For some clients, the Social Security Administration sets the onset date after the date of application.
How Protective Filing Dates Affect Waiting Periods
If a person has a protective date (the date they told the Social Security Administration they’d be applying for benefits), it serves as the application date for the time limit discussed in the section above. The entitlement date for Social Security disability benefits can be one year before the protective filing date.
Simply put, a client may receive disability payments for twelve months before the protective date if the SSA finds that they were disabled at least five months beforehand. Consult an attorney for Social Disability in Stevens Point, WI to learn about obtaining a protective filing date.
Conclusion
As shown in this guide, in most instances, a claimant does not really have to wait the full five months after the Social Security Administration’s decision to receive benefits. The waiting period is used up while the client waits for a decision from the SSA. For additional information on waiting period timing, disability onset dates, and the effects of these dates on back pay, consult Duncan Disability Law S.C. today. You can also connect them on Facebook.
