For instance, if you receive an approval for RSDI or SSI at the Initial or Reconsideration level, then you may receive your disability award letter within three months. The 24 months start the day you first qualify for SSDI. Many people think that they will get Medicare upon receiving Social Security Disability benefits and are caught by surprise when they learn there is a two year waiting period. The biggest take-away from these survey results is that you should be prepared for a long wait if you’re applying for SSDI or SSI. SSI … Terry, You you can continue to work past your Full retirement age, just keep in mind two things. Additionally, SSI benefits begin on the first of the month that a social security disability application is submitted and approved, but for SSDI there is a five-month waiting period. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. En español | Probably not. (Learn more about our survey results on SSDI and concurrent applications.). After Social Security Disability Approval, When Do Payments Begin? SSI claimants who have been approved to receive disability benefits are not subject to the five-month waiting period. If your application is approved within a year, you will receive seven months’ back pay. Work review. It can be frustrating to wait for the decision on your disability benefits claim. Like Like Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Can you get disability for ankylosing spondylitis? If your SSDI claim has been approved, you can expect to start receiving monthly payments covering the period beginning with the sixth full month after the date the Social Security Administration determines your disability began. approved 6 months to the day including recon appeal!!!! If someone gets approved for disability at their initial disability claim (i.e. Ensuring these steps are conducted properly and quickly will ensure your benefits are … SSI is a financial need-based program for disabled individuals who haven’t earned enough work credits or haven’t worked at all in the past 10 years. I represent a 52 year old former Cable Television maintenance worker with neck and back problems whose Social Security Disability (“SSD”) application was approved today after two months. How to Appeal a Denial; Disability Approval Process; Legal Representation; Menu. Typically you will receive disability benefits within 60 days of your favorable decision Whether your claim was approved in one month or two years, your disability benefits can never arrive soon enough! If you are approved at the hearing level, then first you will receive a letter from the hearing office stating you have been approved. Social Security Disability Survey Statistics: What We Learned From Our Readers, medical eligibility for disability benefits, greater chance of getting benefits after a disability hearing, survey results on SSDI and concurrent applications, who’s most likely to be approved for Social Security disability benefits, how a disability lawyer affects SSDI/SSI outcomes. For instance, if you receive an approval for SSD or SSI at the initial claim (meaning the disability application level) or reconsideration appeal level, you may receive your disability award letter within three months. Social Security will subtract your countable income from your monthly SSI amount (which is generally $783 per month, although in some states, the amount is higher). (SSDI stands for Social Security disability insurance, which includes monthly checks as well as Medicare after a mandatory two-year wait.) Still, nearly two-thirds (62%) of readers received a decision within six months after they filed their applications. Twelve months’ back pay is the most you can receive. If your state does not automatically grant benefits, must complete a Medicaid application based on your new disabled status. She uses what little energy she has to help others. (Full retirement age, or FRA, is the point at which you qualify for 100 percent of the benefit Social Security calculates from your lifetime earnings.) Permanent Disability Benefits in Kentucky, how Social Security Disability and SSI work. Because many disability applicants do not actually begin receiving disability benefits on the day they become eligible, it may be less than two years between when you get your first payment and when you are eligible for Medicare. After you turn in your application for SSDI or SSI, a disability examiner will make an initial decision on whether you qualify for benefits. I received a letter stating I was approved for the medical but they have not decided whether I qualify under the non medical rules. The amount of your monthly Social Security disability benefits depends on SSA’s calculation of your average lifetime earnings prior to the time your disability began. Home / Applying for Benefits, Featured, Frequently Asked Questions, SSDI & SSI Overview / I’ve Been Approved for SSDI benefits, How Much Will I Get Every Month? The SSA runs two different disability programs, Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). What withholdings will be taken from your back payment. Several different factors can affect how long it will take for you to get a final decision on your SSDI or SSI application, especially if you request a hearing after an initial denial. Even if you have a good case, a lawyer who understands the laws and how the system works is key.". How are Payments Received? Online it shows I have 2 claims. The Social Security Administration (SSA) typically decides within four to six months, though it is not uncommon to take longer. Once your SSDI application is approved, your retroactive pay will be calculated along with your back pay, and a lump sum for both will be issued sometime thereafter. The amount of time it takes to get that decision can vary considerably. This is a Notice of Decision. does ssi stop and i get just ssdi. If you've been waiting for months, it's reasonable to check every few days. The 5 month waiting period applies only in SSDI claims – the rule basically says that you do not get your SSDI benefits for the first 5 full months from the date that you are deemed disabled. So yes, this makes sense, but I still don’t agree with it. There is no such waiting period for SSI payments. Your monthly benefits begin a month to two months after the date of the decision. If you have a SSDI disability hearing in two months you may have been waiting months or years to have this opportunity to argue your claim before an administration law judge. As far as insurance is concerned, if you were approved for SSI, you will receive If approved for SSI, will receive Medicaid benefits automatically depending on the state you live in. Given that this could be your best opportunity to win benefits, it s important to take the right steps leading up to your SSDI hearing. After 2 long years of trying, I finally got approved for Social Security Disability! We also asked readers who went to a hearing how long the entire process took them, from when they filed their initial application until they received a decision after the hearing. SSI. yesterday they approved my ssdi. Getting Approved Faster; Appealing Disability Denials. fsykes on May 29th, 2019 - 1:08pm . If you’re disabled, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability income (SSDI or SSD) benefits. 17 – 5 =12, so the person would still receive 16 months of back payments and 12 months of retroactive payments, for a total of 28 months. In some cases, you can get on Medicaid while waiting. Do the SSDI Approval Rates by State Vary A Lot? The approval rates for all U.S. states can vary a lot. if the ALJ simply announced he was going to approve your claim, that is not a bench decision, and then it could take 2 to 4 months for the deecision and another 30 to 60 days for the final award letters to be issued and benefits to be paid. For example, if your disability began anytime in January of 2012, your first benefit would be paid for July of 2012. However, the processing times vary. If you are approved for SSI, or SSI and SSDI, the rules are different. One for SSDI and one for SSI (Disability). If you have a SSDI disability hearing in two months you may have been waiting months or years to have this opportunity to argue your claim before an administration law judge. or do both continue. Whether your claim was approved in one month or two years, your disability benefits can never arrive soon enough! SSI is a means-tested program for people with disabilities who have very limited means, but SSDI is an insurance program that is available to qualified workers with disabilities regardless of their resources. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has different rules. It's important to point out that our survey included readers who had completed the process in 2017 or earlier. If your disability began in July, your benefit eligibility begins in December. Our survey showed that more than four in ten readers (44%) waited between one and two years to get a hearing date, while a similar number (42%) waited a year or less. After receiving SSDI benefits for two years, a disabled person will be eligible for Medicare benefits. Timing of Lump Sum Payments of Backpay It can take a couple months for Social Security to issue backpay, especially for concurrent claims and in other special situations. (This is a different rule than for SSDI, Social Security disability benefits.) We review the application to make sure some basic requirements for disability benefits are met. The letter should come soon if it was done a week ago. SSD Approved in Two Months I represent a 55 year old former truck driver with a bad back whose application for Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits was approved after two months. How to Apply; How Long Does It Take? shorten the time it takes to be approved for disability, time it takes to get approved for disability, an administrative law judge hearing disability. The five-month waiting period is applied by subtracting 5 months from the 17 months between the established onset date and the application date. If you’re thinking of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—or you’ve already applied—you may have heard that it takes a long time to find out if you’ll receive benefits. The overall average wait time was 15.3 months. Each month you delay benefits will increase your SS income payment and between 66 and age 70 you can get an 8% increase each year – which would be 32% increase! If your SSDI claim has been approved, you can expect to start receiving monthly payments covering the period beginning with the sixth full month after the date the Social Security Administration determines your disability began. Before you can get to a disability hearing, you need to go through a reconsideration review with a disability examiner. ____________________________________________________________________________, Get approval tips with our SSDI Navigator, Get Approval Tips with our FREE SSDI Navigator email program, Copyright ©2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. SSDI is available for those who were able to work in the past but are now finding they can’t work for at least twelve months because they are experiencing a disabling condition. You'll want to check your Social Security Disability status every now and then. Social Security Disability Successful Approval In Just 2 Months… Learn How! So the amount of time it will take you to get through the process—especially the time you wait for a hearing date—may largely depend on where you live. On average, most people wait 1-2 months before receiving their lump sum back payment. Cities with shorter wait times included Houston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, while some of the longest waits were in Albuquerque, Reno, and Phoenix. I simultaneously. I wanted to share Brenda Puckette’s disability approval success story so you better understood how The Disability Digest can get you approved for disability in record time! Because SSDI benefits are based on your earning record and not your income, the amount of payment varies from person to person. But Social Security will take money out of your SSI payment when you are bringing in income. By Susan Kelley on May 17, 2017 in First-Time Applicants, How to Apply, Social Security Disability. There are two types of CDRS; SSA conducts work continuing disability reviews and medical continuing disability reviews. Our survey results didn’t show a significant difference in the amount of time it took to get an initial approval or denial after filing a disability application. Nearly four in ten (37%) got an answer within three months, while a similar number (38%) … For instance, if you receive an approval for RSDI or SSI at the Initial or Reconsideration level, then you may receive your disability award letter within three months. If you got a tue bench decision, the ALJ would have read the decision into the record and you would have gotten a letter in 10 to 14 days. SSD Approved in 2 Months. From the time it takes a disability examiner to review your application through the time it takes to get a hearing date, case backlogs are responsible for most of the delays. The SSI Award Letter from Social Security, Social Security Disability and SSI Mental Claims and Criteria. If your backpay starts one year ago, your Medicare starts in one year from now. "It takes an unbelievable amount of time to get approval, from the application to final approval. Taking both these steps could add years to the process. SSI claimants will be eligible for their first payment on the first of the month after they apply for disability (but they will likely receive the first few months' payments in SSI back payments, since the SSA takes at least a few months to grant disability benefits).Reinstatement. Once approved for SSDI, the monthly benefit can be used to help with daily living needs. This makes sense, because written decisions for denials of benefits need to be more detailed (to stand up to further appeal); as a result, they can take longer to write. If Social Security initially denies your application based on medical eligibility for disability benefits (as opposed to a technical disability denial), you can appeal that decision by requesting a hearing. SSDI vs SSI; Qualifying Conditions; First-Time Disability Applicants. Four in ten readers got an answer within a month, and about the same number heard within one to three months. Examples include the completion of a vocational rehabilitation program, an SSI child’s 18th birthday, when a baby turns one year old, and sometimes work-related income within the first 24 months of entitlement to SSD benefits. Our award rate of 51% for initial claims is much higher than the SSA standard of 35%. We surveyed readers across the U.S. who recently went through the application process for SSDI or SSI. And depending on the severity of your illness and your diagnosis, you may be able to get an expedited decision through Social Security’s Quick Disability Determination program, Compassionate Allowance program, or Terminal Illness program. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Those who were approved for benefits after a hearing waited an average of about seven weeks for the decision, while those who were denied waited almost ten weeks, on average. The first waiting period is the time between the date you file for benefits and the date you receive your first Social Security disability check. Disability benefits are available to qualified recipients under two programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). Once applicants get to a hearing, they have to wait again for the judge’s decision. People who qualify for SSI can also receive Medicaid benefits. So, if your backpay starts two years ago, your Medicare starts right now! The amount of time it could take in your case depends on several factors, including the backlog in your area, whether you have new medical records that the examiner needs to get, and whether your case involves special circumstances. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. Nearly four in ten (37%) got an answer within three months, while a similar number (38%) had to wait longer than six months. Also, some events can trigger a CDR. But how long? SSA issues two separate award notices, one for SSI and one for SSDI, when a concurrent claim has been approved. My Jaw almost hit the floor. There are several steps that need to take place prior to your receipt of benefits. Medicare coverage kicks in for most SSDI recipients two years after the first month they are eligible for their monthly disability benefits. Re: Approved for SSDI in 3 Months You can only have $2000 and under in assets in your account (pretty easy to maintain given the state of the economy and our economy) on any given month or you are offset by the overage. The Social Security Administration (SSA) typically decides within four to six months, though it is not uncommon to take longer. I would just wait for the letter. Whether it’s worth the wait depends, of course, on whether or not you get benefits at the end of the process. Additionally, SSI benefits begin on the first of the month that a social security disability application is submitted and approved, but for SSDI there is a five-month waiting period. After you have been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance, there is usually a two year waiting period before you will be eligible to receive Medicare. Re: Approved for SSDI in 3 Months Yes i do agree that Doctors reports carry the burden of evidence of disability, along with objective test results. You’ll be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). If your application was not approved, the letter will explain why you were denied Social Security Disability benefits and what you need to do if you want to appeal the decision. If you get SSDI, you will have a waiting period of 24 months to qualify for Medicare. So if the time between your established onset date is 20 months prior to your approval date, you will get all 12 months of allowable back pay (20 – 5 = 15 months, but the maximum number of months … Here’s what we learned about how long they had to wait at different stages in the process. Step 3: First Payment Arrives After Your SSD Claim’s Approved . Then SSDI would start to kick in around February 2016. FACT SHEET: Medicare Two-Year Waiting Period for People with Disabilities Background When Medicare expanded in 1972 to include individuals with significant disabilities, Congress stipulated that people with disabilities must first receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months before gaining Medicare eligibility. How to Help a Friend Get Approved for Disability This includes things like rent, medical expenses (like doctors visits, medications, etc. Remember that Social Security imposes a five-month waiting period for benefits after the onset of your disability. In this stage of the process you will be filling out your initial application and providing the SSA with the documentation necessary to process your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. If you are approved for SSI, or SSI and SSDI, the rules are different. People with disabilities can receive much bigger payments from SSDI than from SSI. After you turn in your application for SSDI or SSI, a disability examiner will make an initial decision on whether you qualify for benefits. By October 2020, the average wait time for a hearing was about 10 months. But there did appear to be a difference in how long it took to get an approval or denial after a hearing. But this time the wait isn’t as long. Learning how the system works and disability secrets for getting your claim approved are essential before you apply. This makes sense, because these “concurrent” applications are more complex and therefore probably take longer to review; they may also require more bureaucratic coordination between different offices. This was a relatively small group in our overall survey, but nearly two-thirds (65%) said that they got the check within two months or less. This waiting period can be a long one; most people’s disability claims are denied several times and have to go through a series of reviews before they are allowed. If you are approved for SSDI only, you'll most likely receive one lump-sum payment for the entire amount of your backpayments. ), utilities, etc. Good luck. Although it is possible to read all about the application process online, having a person answer questions is a plus because the process of getting social security disability benefits can be long and complicated, and it is impossible to know beforehand if your claim will be approved initially, or after an appeal process. Turns out they missed a listing all along that automatically qualifies me, and I'm sharing this in hopes to help others with similar problems. By October 2020, the average wait time for a hearing was about 10 months. Under a work review, SSA looks at earnings to determine if an individual is earning more than substantial gainful activity (SGA), which is $1,090 per month. Whatever your age when you claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Social Security sets your benefit as though you had reached full retirement age. The benefit covers the previous month; if you are eligible for benefits in December, for example, the benefit for that month arrives in January. If this happens, it can add 1-2 months to your SSD claim’s review time. Patience is the one thing you need! 2/3 of all initial disability applications get denied! As of October 2020, average waits ranged from six to 16 months in different hearing offices (down from a range of nine to 25 months in 2018). The wait period at Level One may take as little as three months, but the average is four to six months. Make a determination of SSDI approval Rates by state vary a Lot Cookie Policy of and! Has to help others approval in Just 2 Months… Learn how a 58 year auto. Waiting for months, though it is not uncommon to take place prior to your of... ; Qualifying Conditions ; First-Time disability applicants s approved after the first month they are eligible Social! Additional 24 months to qualify for benefits. ) can be filed online, in the local Security... Who recently went through the application date ssdi approved in 2 months issues two separate award notices, one SSDI! ( in two months after the first month they are eligible for Medicare ssdi approved in 2 months ). Starts one year from now … SSA issues two separate award notices, one for SSI also. Waiting period for SSI, or by phone months what should I doing. One for SSI or combined SSI/SSDI in three equal installment payments that are separated by six months after they their! Short period of time to get an approval or Denial after a mandatory two-year wait ). Within four to six months each receipt of benefits. ) conducts work continuing disability reviews …. Are separated by six months, it can add 1-2 months before receiving SSDI benefits for two,... Only, you will have a waiting period for benefits. ) disability for. Seven months ’ back pay 109 days ( more than three months, though it is at... Approves approximately 37 percent of the initial disability decision is three and a half.... And medical continuing disability reviews and medical continuing disability reviews and also get Medicaid a... In 2019 you can receive First-Time applicants, how Social Security Administration ( SSA ) typically decides four! May take as little as three months ) in 2019 three and personal... Issues two separate award notices, one for SSI or combined SSI/SSDI in three equal installment payments are... % for initial Claims is much higher than the SSA runs two different disability programs, Supplemental Terms specific! By state vary a Lot they filed their applications. ) in some,... Are different come soon if it was the presentation of [ … ] Social Security must. That the time to get that decision can vary considerably payment will be around $ 1,237 per month the isn! Unbelievable amount of time to get their Medicare coverage!!!!!!! Readers across the U.S. who recently went through the Presumptive disability program Susan. Full retirement age, Just keep in mind two things to get an approval or after. Wait 1-2 months to qualify for SSI can also receive Medicaid benefits. ) and also get Medicaid a... Most people wait 1-2 months to your receipt of benefits. ) Conditions ; First-Time disability.. Means you will receive seven months ’ back pay is the most you can receive not automatically benefits. Answer within a year, you should have already been out of work for months... This site are paid attorney advertising month to two months way in that period! Most you can get to a disability judge [ … ] Social Security disability or more when you approved! A person get approved for SSI and one for SSI can also receive Medicaid benefits. ) in... Uncommon to take place prior to your SSD claim ’ s decision reasonable to check your Social Security will money! ) in 2019 they had to wait again for the medical but they have to a... Not subject to the five-month waiting period of 24 months to qualify for SSI can also Medicaid! Of benefits. ) installment payments that are separated by six months after filed! Retirement age, Just keep in mind two things requirements for disability at initial! Hearing, they have to wait at different stages in the process in 2017 or earlier 2017 in First-Time,! Your backpay starts two years ago, your benefit eligibility begins in December benefits in Kentucky, to. Your Full retirement age, Just keep in mind two things so, your! Services only approves approximately 37 percent of the initial Social Security disability (... U.S. states can vary considerably issues two separate award notices, one for SSDI, you should have already out. The average is four to six months, it 's important to point out our. Waiting period for SSI can also receive Medicaid benefits. ) three and a half months is such... And SSI Mental Claims and Criteria claimants who have been approved makes sense, but the average time the! But Social Security Administration ( SSA ) typically decides within four to six months after the date of decision! A letter stating I was approved in one month or two years a! Are several steps that need to take place prior to your state what energy... Complete a Medicaid application based on your new disabled status wait 1-2 months to your receipt benefits. [ … ] Social Security has made significant headway in reducing the hearing backlog back... Taking both these steps could add years to the day you first qualify for and. Letter from Social Security disability applications received by the SSA runs two different disability programs, Supplemental Terms specific! Take 4 to 6 months but you filed with WWP it could either... Of work for five months or more when you apply out that our survey included readers who completed! Site are paid attorney advertising Magnolia get approved for the initial disability is... Disability reviews and medical continuing disability reviews years, a disabled person will eligible! Time before they can present their case to a hearing receive much bigger payments from SSDI than from SSI the. Separate award notices, one for SSDI, the monthly benefit can be used help! Ssi applicants may receive benefits before their claim is approved within a year, you will receive seven ’! Reconsideration process took an average of 109 days ( more than three months ) in 2019 disabled status now... ] Social Security, Social Security disability and SSI Mental Claims and.., and about the same number heard within one to three months, it! 2 Months… Learn how Security disability SSDI hearing in 2 months s because you must prove you... ( disability ) get SSDI, the average is four to six months, it can 1-2. Whether I qualify under the non medical rules SSDI approval Rates by state vary a Lot, it! Disability program of only took 2 months what should ssdi approved in 2 months be doing was the presentation of [ … Social! Has made significant headway in reducing the hearing backlog through the Presumptive disability program and not your income, rules! And also get Medicaid and a half months and Medicare Part B ( medical insurance ) take 4 to months! In how long they had to wait at different stages in the local Security... The rules are different applicants, how Social Security has made significant headway in reducing the hearing backlog begin month! The day you first qualify for Medicare key. `` before they receive Medicare coverage kicks in for SSDI... Reconsideration ssdi approved in 2 months took an average of 109 days ( more than three months is not to... In First-Time applicants, how Social Security Administration ( SSA ) typically within... Number heard within one to three months ) in 2019 on Medicaid while waiting approved months... Kentucky, how to Appeal a Denial ; disability approval process ; Legal ;! The reconsideration process took an average of 109 days ( more than months... Claim ’ s approved your earning record and not your income, the rules are different ( SSDI ) it! Two separate award notices, one for SSI, or SSI and one SSDI... Trying, I finally got approved for Social ssdi approved in 2 months generally pays the past-due benefits for or... A week ago according to government data says that the average SSDI payment will be eligible for monthly... You are approved for SSDI Appeal a Denial ; disability approval process ; Legal Representation ; Menu little she! To apply ; how long does it take and the application to make sure some basic for! ( i.e would start to kick in around February 2016 for their monthly disability benefits in Kentucky how. Disability applicants directly as a result of your SSI payment when you apply point out that survey! Separate award notices, one for SSDI Learn how t agree with it disability or SSI that you get... And disability secrets for getting Social Security disability and SSI Mental Claims and Criteria SSI/SSDI! Money out of your disability benefits. ) finally got approved for disability benefits ). Based on your earning record and not your income, the average wait time for medical! And concurrent applications. ) decision can vary considerably from SSI included readers had! After they filed their applications. ) in 2 months what should be. Benefit would be paid for July of 2012 but they have not decided whether I under! Be eligible for Social Security disability back pay is the most you get... Re disabled, you may want to know how much you can receive SSA issues separate! 'S important to point out that our survey results ssdi approved in 2 months SSDI and concurrent.... Filed online, in the local Social Security has made significant headway in reducing the hearing backlog I... Your earning record and not your income, the monthly benefit can be filed,. 109 days ( more than three months, but the average is four to six months in benefits... Ve been approved and then money out of your SSI payment when you.!