How Many Months Do I Have to Wait After the Onset of My Disability to Get Benefits?

Each of the two disability programs (SSD and SSI) has different rules for when a person goes into pay, after the onset of disability.

Payments under the disability insurance program (SSD), which applies to disabled workers who have paid adequate payroll withholding taxes to be eligible, are significantly delayed. First, the first give full months after the onset of disability aren’t paid. Second, benefits for each month are paid the month after that month.

For example, suppose you became disabled on Jan. 2, 2016. The first five full months would be February through June 2016. You would be eligible for a July check, which would come in August. Note that this could be more than seven months after the onset of your disability. The first month of entitlement would be considered as July 2016. Two years after that, in July 2018, you would be eligible for Medicare.

Also note that benefits cannot be paid for more than a year prior to the filing of your application. Thus, if you became disabled on Jan. 1, 2013, then filed an application on June 15, 2015, you can receive benefits only for the months of July 2014 to the present.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability program has different rules. This is the program that applies to individuals who have little or no household income, or countable resources. First, benefits are payable for the first full month after the date of onset of disability.

For example, if you became disabled on June 15, 2015, and filed an application for SSI benefits on Dec. 14, 2015, you could receive a check for January 2016, going forward to the present. You would then be eligible for Medicaid.

If you have more questions about SSD or SSI benefits, contact Don Pilzer for help today.