Social Security takes a long time to make decisions on disability claims. The money you were due for all those months shouldn’t just disappear. No, they pay you for that time if you’re approved. They may also pay you for some of that time you waited before even filing your claim. Here are the rules for these back benefits:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Assuming you’re found disabled that far back, benefits can start the month after the month you filed your SSI claim. If you filed your claim in January 2024, they owe you beginning February 2024, assuming they find you disabled that far back.

Disability Insurance Benefits: These are the benefits based on your earnings. Benefits can go back up to 12 months before the month in which you file your disability claim BUT there’s a five-month waiting period after you became disabled before benefits can begin. Two examples:

  • Filed claim in January 2024. Became disabled June 15, 2023. Benefits begin December 2023 — five months after the disability began.
  • Filed claim in July 2024. Became disabled September 23, 2022. Benefits began June 2023 — one year prior to the date of the claim.

Sound complicated? I’m making it as simple as I can. That’s why you should hire an attorney to represent you.

If you’re in NC and want help with your Social Security disability claim, call Hall & Rouse, P.C. at 1-866-425-5347