WHEN WILL YOU GET YOUR BACK PAY?

When you apply for Social Security disability, it may take a year or more before your claim is approved. Social Security offers two types of lump sum benefits to cover the time you had to wait: Retroactive Pay and Back Pay.

Back pay covers the time between your application date and your first payment. Retroactive benefits cover a maximum of 12 months from your established onset date (EOD) through your application date.

Often, this adds up to several thousand dollar--which Social Security will pay as a one-time, lump sum settlement. After that, your monthly benefit is payable at a set day each month.

After you are notified that you have been approved, the time required to receive "back pay" varies, depending on which processing center handles your payment, and the workload of the center to which you have been assigned. A claimant can wait 2 weeks to 10 weeks to get back pay. Here at my location in Huntsville, AL, most of my clients receive their back pay within about 4 to 6 weeks of their favorable decision.

It is the job of your attorney or advocate to make sure you get all the back pay to which you are entitled. If your case goes to court, the administrative law judge (ALJ) may want to set your "onset date" in a way that reduces your back pay. Your attorney or advocate will maneuver to prove an earlier onset date to increase your back pay.

One of the first things we do for a new client is evaluate when disability started. We will file the application with an alleged onset date that will potentially pay the most retroactive pay possible.

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The Forsythe Firm

7027 Old Madison Pike NW

Suite 108

Huntsville, AL 35806

"Across from Bridge Street"

PHONE (256) 799-0297

Free Consultations