Q & A
I heard that my disability must be expected to last a year to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Does this mean I have to wait until I’ve been disabled an entire year before applying?
Answer: No. If you believe your disability will last a year or longer, apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take three to four months to process an application. If your application is approved, we will pay your first Social Security disability benefits for the sixth full month after the date your disability began. For example, if your state agency decides your disability began on Jan. 15, we will pay your first disability benefit for the month of July. We pay in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your July benefit in August. For more information about Social Security disability benefits, refer to our publication, Disability Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.
Source: Joanne Crane, via APP.com, March 2, 2014
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.