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MUST I WAIT 6 MONTHS TO GET A DISABILITY BENEFIT? WHY IS THAT?

If you become disabled and qualify for SSDI you will not receive a Social Security disability check for at least 6 months.

First, there is a 5-months waiting period on  all Title 2 or SSDI claims. This means that Social Security (Title 2) does not cover the first 5 months of a disability.  So if you become disabled in January, you are not eligible for a payment until June or July.

This waiting period begins the month after Social Security decides your disability began.  For example, if Social Security finds your disability began on March 3, you lose March - August to the waiting period.  Your first benefit check will be for September.  However, Social Security pays one month in the arrears, so your September payment won't actually arrive until October.  Thus, you will go from March to October without actually getting a check.

 This long waiting period can be a burden on newly disabled individuals.  If your employer carries short-term disability insurance, you should file for that benefit.  It could tide you over until Social Security payments begin. Note:  You must enroll in the disability plan before you become disabled.

 You also must consider the long processing time on Social Security applications.  When you file a new Social Security application, it can take up to 6 months before an examiner is even assigned to your case.  In all, you may wait up to 12 months for Social Security to arrive at its initial decision.

In most cases, Social Security disability benefits are not fast or streamlined.  And it doesn't matter what your financial need is:  the Social Security Administration will most at its own pace as a slow, overburdened and highly bureaucratic government agency. The appeals process can easily make you wait another 12 to 18 months.

The Forsythe Firm of Alabama has helped thousands of claimants get approved for Social Security disability benefits.  We specialize in appeals of claims that were recently denied.  If necessary, we can direct your case to an Administrative Law Judge for a hearing--where you will have your best chance of approval. 

 Call us for a free no-pressure consultation at (256) 799-0297. 

Or send us an email:   forsythefirm@gmail.com

 

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