What is Back Pay for Disability?
“Back pay” refers to disability benefits that an individual would have received if they had been approved for benefits immediately. This applies to those who applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
How is the Amount of Back Pay Determined?
Once your disability benefits application is approved, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will calculate your back pay. The amount of back pay is determined by the date of the claim and the established onset date of the disability.
The distribution of back pay depends on whether an individual is awarded SSDI benefits only or both SSI and SSDI benefits. If only SSDI benefits are awarded, the back pay is paid in a lump sum. SSI back pay is issued incrementally.
How Long It Takes to Get SSDI Back Pay
Although the payment may be made in a lump sum, it can take additional time for the administration to process it. SSDI benefits are payable after a five-month waiting period from the disability onset date. Retroactive benefits can be received for the remaining months.
After that, the timeline for receiving SSDI back pay is unique to each individual’s claim and depends on various factors. This process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months, and sometimes even longer. In other words, the longer you wait for approval, the less the waiting period will affect you.
If you have direct deposit set up with the SSA, you may receive your payment even sooner. In most cases, however, the lump-sum payment is issued via check through the mail.
Knowledgeable Social Security Lawyers Can Help
If you aren’t sure about your back pay eligibility, schedule a free consultation with an experienced Social Security disability attorney. Not only can they help you understand your rights, but they can also help establish a favorable onset date. Doing this correctly ensures you will be awarded all the back pay you are entitled to.
Find out if you are eligible for back pay and get the legal support you need. Contact the dedicated and compassionate Social Security lawyers at Kenneth Miller & Associates. We will be happy to help expedite your back pay claim and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Reach out online anytime or call to schedule a free case evaluation.
