WHAT IS AOD (Alleged Onset Date)?

In a Social Security disability case, the "Alleged Onset Date" or AOD means the date that you claim you first became unable to work. This date is important because it determines how much retroactive pay you will receive.

What facts affect the Alleged Onset Date?

1. You had stopped working by the AOD.

2. You were being treated for a severe medical disorder at the AOD.

3. The impairment present at your AOD would last at least 12 straight months.

4. You have not worked full-time since the AOD.

Retroactive payments can go back 12 months prior to the application date on SSDI claims.

ESTABLISHED ONSET DATE (EOD) is another term to be aware of. This is the date that Social Security determines you first became disabled under their rules. The date may or may not be the same as the Alleged Onset Date (AOD). It is the EOD that Social Security will use to calculate your retroactive pay.

It's important to get your AOD correct. Sometimes, a specific event makes the AOD easy to determine. For example, if an individual had a heart attack, a car accident or another severe injury--that date is probably the AOD.

You will need medical evidence to prove that your disability began at the AOD. It's possible that a disability actually began before medical treatment began. However, Social Security will not usually establish disability prior to medical treatment.