Back Pay And Your SSDI Claim: What To Know
When a medical condition keeps you from working, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Most claimants understand that it can take a very long time to hear back from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after they file their application. The wait can be months and months. However, once you are approved, things begin to look up. Read on to find out how the SSA pays claimants back for their time.
Back Pay is Coming to You
Back pay is the SSA's way of paying you back for the time you spend waiting for an approval. Back pay begins to accrue once you stop working (usually, see below) and stops when you are approved for benefits. The amount you get depends on how much you are paid each month once your benefits are approved. For instance, if you are approved for SSDI at $1.000 a month, your back pay will be the number of months you wait multiplied by your monthly amount. Once your claim is approved, back pay is paid in a single lump sum payment to claimants. However, some back pay is deduced by the SSA.
The Five-Month Waiting Period
Although the SSA attempts to help recipients by paying them back pay, they also put in place a gap period of five months in which no back pay accrues. That means the applicant must wait five months after an approval before they can be paid their back pay.
Back Pay Begins to Accrue
For most applicants, back pay begins to be counted the day after they stop working. However, some people are disabled long before they stop working. If you can prove that you were disabled but continued to work, you may get your back pay amount adjusted. Speak to a Social Security lawyer to learn more about this option.
Don't Wait Too Long
Back pay has its limits. Workers who stop working and then fail to file an SSDI application could run into problems with the timing. Back pay is not meant to cover several years before you file for benefits unless you have a very good reason for delaying the filing.
When You are Turned Down
You can be turned down for SSDI for the most minor of reasons. Many applicants see a Social Security attorney about their claims and for help with their appeal hearing. You can be paid your back pay and the monthly benefits you are owed but you might need help to do so.
For more information, contact a social security disability lawyer near you.