SSDI length of time for back pay?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

When I initially met with my attorney, I was told that back pay would go back one year from application, minus 5 months (I had already waited over 2 years to file because I was told I would have "full recovery" after my 2 fusion surgeries). I've received my acceptance letter but not my back pay yet, and during my search for more info on the process I came across a SSDI page stating that even if it takes 24 months for your claim to get approved, you can only receive pay for 12 months. Can anybody help clarify this for me please? Also, I have friends who received their back pay before or immediately after their approval letters (NY), but I've seen posts by people saying it took several months so I was wondering if there was a formula for when I can expect mine? I'm not looking to go on a spending spree, but I have a mortgage, car payment, property and school taxes, and children to feed and clothe as well as one in an expensive college. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and all input is appreciated.

Kendra (not verified)

In reply to by Jennifer (not verified)

Mon, 03/13/2017 - 02:15 Permalink

I went through the same thing..when I got my back pay I had to give every dime to Long Term..which I paid into my company for 17 years..I did not understand this at all.

Bryan

In reply to by Kendra (not verified)

Mon, 03/13/2017 - 12:56 Permalink

Hi Kendra,
I'm sorry to hear that! Some long term disability insurance plans may include provisions for them to reclaim their costs based on your disability back pay, it's always best to know if that's stipulated in your long term disability insurance policy.

Molly C (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:19 Permalink

Hi, Jennifer. Typically disability attorneys and advocates have claimants sign a fee agreement up front. This agreement allows the SSA to pay the advocate in the event of an approval. Typically the fee is 25% of back pay, up to $6,000. Do you or your mother remember signing a fee agreement? And, is the advocate asking you directly for money, or going through the SSA?

Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:19 Permalink

I was hurt on the job, (usps) n have been receiving owcp since may 2008, applied for ssdi in 2011, I waited cause I thought I was goin to return to work but they fired me b4 I even had my surgery on lower back, which has left me with major nerve damage, was approved by alj nov.2013, got letter frm alj fully favorable, and onset date of injury by alj may 2008 according to sections 216 (I) and section 223 (d), whatever that is, but ssa did go by onset date alj allowed me instead they gsve me an eod, establish onset date, can this b appealed, and they say im only getting a one time payment which isnt enough to have waisted time on, I get 66 3rd % frm owcp, (feca) and I knw im entiltled to 80% but ssa say my monthly is $0, the alj even said I had a very strong work history for past 15 years, im not understanding this at all.i was receiving 75% from owcp when my son was in school up until age 23 which I only received for bout 10mnths, and that increased my owcp check by about $240.00 per month n now im intitled to 80%, wit the 13% comming from my social security, but they sayin im intitled to $0, sumone please help me understand what are they doing at ssa.

Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 Permalink

hi there. i was just told that i was approved for ssdi for ptsd. since its a wounded warrior case and its expedited, does this mean i will see my back pay soon? i was told that i was approved on feb 27 2014. i have not received the award letter yet but i called the 800 number and they read me my approval letter. anywho when should i start seen my back pay and check?? thanks

Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 Permalink

Youll neer see it. Just like me. Ive been waiting since 2007. I was told that i had too many rescourses that i didnt deserve my back pay of 32,000. I was going through a divorce at the same time and got nothing out of the Divorce of 11 yrs. So I'm not sure how they figured I had so many resources since I was only getting state assistance of $331. a month. and food stamps.

Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 Permalink

That is not necessarily true. First of all from one vet to another, thank you for your service to our country. I can relate with how convoluted the information supplied by the Gov't. Both with the VA and the SSA. I receive SSDI for my PTSD. It is service connected but I had such an overwhelming amount of documentation of how totally debilitating it had become for me. I had been hospitalized several times for psychiatric issues including two suicide attempts. The fact is that it has completely stripped me of my ability to function in society much less hold a job. In my case I worked very hard during my entire enlistment and continued to do so almost the very day I was discharged. I had some very VERY difficult manifestations of my PTSD which I managed to "white knuckle" my way through for a very long time. Then I experienced a very traumatic suicide of my step-daughter and all the fears I struggled with, the nightmares, etc completely destroyed what little hold I had left on my sanity. I share this all with you because I want you to know that you are not alone in having to not only accept that you are not able to work but then to face the wall of gov't double talk. Keep heart!

Denese (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 Permalink

I was supposed to have had a bunion removed and when I woke from surgery I had a metal plate and 8 screws in my left foot, I also have sciatica a herniated disc, arthritis in my spine so I get the nerve root blocks, and I received short term which turned into long term disability because I can't work my job of manufacting. I have been denied 3 times and now I've been waiting on a hearing for 8 months. What can I do to push this along? My job hired a advocate for me but it seems as though they serve no purpose.

D (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 Permalink

Hi Denese, I'm sorry to hear about everything you are going through. Unfortunately the Social Security Disability application process can take a very long time. The best thing you can do is to remain organized and persistent. Respond to the SSA's requests in a timely manner and check in on your case periodically. I hope things speed up for you!

Brad (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:21 Permalink

I can not believe there is no one we can go see, phone a representative directly or email regarding my back pay. I was told in Sept 2013 that I was approved. They told me what my monthly deposit would be and the amount of my pay back. I have been calling the main office and then my local social security disability, every other week since 9/2013. I was told to call today 2/2014 if pmt wasn't depoited. Cindy at el cajon ca office told me she wouldn't beable to call me back today until 3:30pm. When I hadn't received her call back, I called the El Cajon office closes at 3:00 PM. She knew that and had no intention to call me back. We owe so many bills; living with my mom since 11/2012; something has to be done.

Stacie (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:21 Permalink

Brad, Did you get your back pay ? I have been waiting for 3 months and The SS office told me it's at the payment processing center,my Atty. got paid 5 wks ago. Any answer please help.

Lisa (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:23 Permalink

I was approved for SSDI and SSi, I received a letter from SSA stating that my first SSDI payment would be on 3/12/14 and gave the amount. When I logged online through the SSA website, it showed a large lump sum payment on 3/3/14 that was deposited into my bank account, I am assuming it was the SSI back pay owed to me, It was a surprise to me since I never received any information as to when those payments would begin. I just logged into the SSA website again and now it is showing that there was a payment for SSDI on 3/4/14 - I did not receive it, and another payment for SSI on 3/5/14. I have been patient with this process for so long, but this is just so confusing. I am assuming that they are going to use the 14th of the month for the first SSDI payment, being that was the original date it was supposed to be deposited, and then since I have now been approved for SSI as well, starting next month it will change to the beginning of the month. And the SSI back pay also included my first SSI payment. Is this anywhere near how this works, I have contacted my Advocate, but haven't received a response from her yet, I just wish they were better at communicating what is going on with everything, I am sure there are many people like me, just waiting in limbo, trying hard to understand what's going on. I thank you for any advice or help with this.

Colleen (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:23 Permalink

Sorry to hear your situation. I'm in the same boat! Can you please give me the website you checked your benefits on. Was it www.ssa.gov?

Penny (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:25 Permalink

My husband came home sick from work on 12/09/13 and never returned to work again as he was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma lung cancer stage four on 12/242013. He was told the had less than six months to live. He applied for social security disability on January 21, 2014. His claim was approved but there was a five month waiting period from the 12/09/13 date. On 02/18/14 I was urged by a social worker in the cancer center to take her business card and go to the social security office and request a fast-track on his claim, tell SSA to call the social worker for his most recent medical records to back up my request because he was now given only two weeks to live. I went to the SSA office with that information. The intake worker wrote some things on a paper, did some things on the computer and then told me that it was okay. She repeated that three times, then she gave me this disclaimer - my husband was found to be disabled as of 12/09/13 and his application for SSD was approved but that he must wait until June 2014 to receive his disability payments. My husband died on 02/25/14. I copied this next statement directly from the SSA site www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/: "Social Security has an obligation to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards" Why wasn't he considered for a compassionate allowance?

Angie (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:25 Permalink

i filed for disability since december 2010, my case was denied, i applied and it was denied again, then my lawyer appeal that decision to the appeal council, after 18months, it was remanded back to the alj, i had to do another medical, send it recent medical, then got a hearing date, my hearing was in september 2013. After almost six months waiting on a decision, i just got a fully favorable, going back from the first day of disability which was in 2009. Thank god, now i went to my local office for them to expedite my payment, because of the hardship i am going through. Waiting now for my award letter and back pay... So to all of you never give up....

Paul (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:25 Permalink

Hi, Angie. Im happy for you. I am waiting decision from ALJ judge. I have been waiting for approval for 3 years. When I filed for SSD they had already calculated my 12 months backpay. That was in 2012. Do you know if I will receive backpay for my 3 yr. extended wait?

Roger (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:25 Permalink

My brother was approved for ssdi Feb. 18, 2014, and was sent a letter stating because he had already started regular social security, he could continue that or pay back benefits and go on ssdi. He elected to pay back benefits and go on ssdi. He sent a cashiers check Feb. 26, and so far ss administration does not show anything received, and he cannot reissue a check for 90 days. Should he worry about the check not being cashed yet, and not showing up under his id#, or should he just be patient and wait for them to administrate it. He has gone to the local ss department, but they are only able to look online, and not wanting to call ss administration for fear that it may delay his claim further. He has no other income sources, so I was wondering if this is normal.

Ryan (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:26 Permalink

I am a 70% sc disabled vet and I applied and the end on on Dec, 2014 I just checked mySSa website and it said i was approved and mailed back pay on mar 27 but I haven't' got it yet. I'm not sure what I got approved for. I didn't use a lawyer or anything. I applied online and didnt even finish. When I got to part about List last 15 jobs, I just put questions marks of everything that was bs and I told them in remarks section for them just to look at my IRS file. Maybe its from PTSD and/or the seizues but hag in there guys. The VA process is definately worse. It took me 8 years to get just 70%. Rock On.

Tiffany (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:26 Permalink

My 10 year old daughter has sickle cell and has been getting SSI since about the age of one. Her dad died in January, I applied for survivor benefits and found out that his other children have been getting money from his disability since August 2010. I received a letter saying that they would be withholding that money until they calculate how much is owed to her. Yesterday I got a letter saying that they only withheld about 4500 and will not be giving it to her because she was receiving Ssi. They said that they over paid her 4500 so she will receive NO BACK PAY. But she will get $369 per month SSDI.I find d it hard to believe that in 4 years she was only owed 4500. What do I need to do? I'm definitely going to appeal. Do I need a lawyer?

Donna (not verified)
Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:26 Permalink

Your daughter can't collect ski disability and ssdi disability. The other kids probably get because they're not disabled just dependents. I know because I'm on ssdi and my son gets sick and I don't get anything from ssdi for him only my daughter. There called auxiliary benefits.

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