Principal Attorney
Have you been diagnosed with a medical condition that prevents you from working? If so, you might be concerned about how long you must wait before you can apply for the Social Security disability benefits you’ll need to cover your everyday expenses. Here’s what you need to know about the timeline.
Understanding SSD Benefits
The Social Security Administration operates two programs for individuals with qualifying disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI provides benefits for workers with a qualifying work history who become disabled from substantial gainful employment. SSI pays benefits to disabled individuals with low or no income and few or no assets.
A person may be entitled to benefits if they meet the following conditions:
- They have a medical condition or impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- The condition prevents them from working in their present job, past work, or other jobs commensurate with their education, training, and experience that exist in substantial numbers in the national economy.
SSD Benefits Have No Formal Waiting Period Before Applying
If you’ve developed a disability or impairment that prevents you from working, you might be concerned about how long you must wait to apply for SSD benefits. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration does not impose a formal waiting period. Instead, the SSA encourages people to file their benefits applications as soon as possible, as the application process can take several weeks or months. Moreover, approved applicants may have to wait several months before benefits will start.
SSD Recipients Must Wait for Benefits
Typically, the Social Security Administration requires approved SSDI applicants to wait five months after the onset of disability before receiving their first benefits checks, which they will receive in the sixth month after the date that the SSA determined the applicant’s disability began. However, approved applicants with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) do not have a waiting period for SSDI benefits.
SSI payments begin the first whole month after an applicant becomes eligible for benefits. However, the Social Security Administration offers expedited payments for:
- Presumptive disability/blindness
- Emergency advance payments
- Immediate payments
- Expedited reinstatement cases
How Long Does the SSD Application Process Take?
The application process for Social Security disability benefits can take several months to several years, depending on the stages of the application and appeals process that an applicant must go through. The SSA states that it typically takes six to eight months to obtain an initial decision on a benefits application. However, the exact duration to wait for an initial decision will depend on factors such as:
- The nature of the applicant’s disability
- How long it takes the Social Security Administration to gather medical evidence
- Whether the SSA needs the applicant to undergo a medical examination
- Whether the SSA reviews an application for quality purposes
If your SSD application is denied on initial review, you have the right to request reconsideration of your application. Should the SSA deny your application on reconsideration, you can appeal that denial to the Social Security Administration’s Appeals Council. Finally, you can appeal an adverse decision of the Appeals Council by filing a lawsuit in federal court. Pursuing the administrative appeals process with the SSA can take several months, and filing a lawsuit to pursue Social Security disability in federal court can take another few months.
Fortunately, if you secure approval of your disability benefits application on appeal, the Social Security Administration may pay back benefits from your initial eligibility date.
Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney Today to Guide You Through the Application Process
Do you need help with the Social Security disability benefits application process? Then contact Disability Advocates Group today for an initial consultation with an SSD lawyer. We’ll review your case, explain the application process, and help you seek the benefits you’re entitled to.
