Understanding the 5-Month Waiting Period for SSDI Benefits
If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), one of the most confusing rules you may come across is the 5-month disability waiting period. This requirement impacts when your benefits start and how much back pay you can receive. For many applicants, it raises an important question: Why is there a waiting period at all?
At Leventhal, Sutton & Gornstein, our disability attorneys help clients navigate every part of the SSDI process. This includes understanding how the Social Security waiting period affects their claim. Continue reading to learn more or contact our law firm today.
What Is the 5-Month Waiting Period for SSDI?
The 5-month waiting period for SSDI is the time Social Security delays paying your benefits after the date they determine your disability began (called your “established onset date,” or EOD). In simple terms, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not pay the first five full months of disability.
For example:
If Social Security finds that your disability began on January 1, you would be entitled to payments come June, after five complete months had passed. This rule applies to almost everyone approved for SSDI, regardless of age, condition, or work history.
Becoming entitled to benefits does not mean you receive the first payment within that same month. This is because SSDI benefits are paid one month behind. Therefore, in the above example, you would get your first payment in July, and the check you receive would be for June’s benefits.
Many people find this timeline confusing and concerning when they’re unable to work. An experienced disability attorney can help you track your benefit start date and ensure your back pay is accurate.
Why Does Social Security Disability Have a Waiting Period?
Many applicants are surprised, and understandably frustrated, when they learn about the Social Security waiting period. However, it has a legitimate purpose: it is designed to ensure benefits go to individuals with long-term disabilities, not temporary conditions. Although the waiting period may seem unfair when you’re already unable to work, it is a standard part of the SSDI program.
How Social Security Determines Your Waiting Period
The 5-month disability waiting period is based on your established onset date (EOD), not the date you applied for benefits or the date your claim was approved.
How Social Security Determines Your EOD
Your EOD is when your condition first met all medical and non-medical requirements to qualify for disability benefits. The SSA determines your established onset date using medical records, doctor statements, hospitalizations, work history, and other evidence.
Does the Waiting Period Affect Back Pay?
Yes. The SSDI 5-month waiting period limits how much back pay you can receive. Even if your disability began years before you applied, Social Security will withhold payment for the first five months after your onset date. However, because retroactive benefits can be issued for up to 12 months before your application date, many applicants still receive significant back pay.
A disability lawyer can ensure your onset date is fully supported by evidence, which often leads to a larger back pay award.
Exceptions To the 5-Month Waiting Period
There are two important exceptions where the waiting period does not apply for claimants:
- Disability Claimants with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis): Individuals approved for disability benefits on or after July 23, 2020, due to ALS no longer have a 5-month waiting period. Benefits can start immediately after claim approval.
- Reinstated SSDI Benefits: If your SSDI benefits ended because you returned to work, but your disability later prevented you from continuing, you might qualify for Expedited Reinstatement. This program may allow your benefits to restart without requiring a new waiting period.
Aside from these exceptions, most SSDI applicants must complete the waiting period. It should be noted that there is no waiting period for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
How a Disability Lawyer Can Help You
While no one can remove the waiting period (unless you qualify for an exception), an attorney can still make a major difference in your case. The disability lawyers at Leventhal, Sutton & Gornstein can help you:
- Gather medical evidence to support the earliest possible disability onset date
- Avoid errors that cause delays
- Appeal unfair or incorrect EOD determinations
- Speed up your approval wherever possible
- Maximize back pay benefits
Small details can make a big difference in how much money you receive and when. If you’re filing for SSDI, contact our law firm now to schedule a free consultation.
Need Help With Your SSDI Claim? Contact Leventhal, Sutton & Gornstein
Understanding the SSDI 5-month waiting period is just one part of navigating disability benefits. If you’re applying for SSDI or appealing a denial, you don’t have to handle the process alone.
At Leventhal, Sutton & Gornstein, our attorneys have decades of experience helping people across Pennsylvania get the benefits they deserve. For 50+ years, our lawyers have helped thousands of clients navigate the Social Security system. We know how to build strong claims, fight unfair decisions, and guide you so you can focus on your health. Contact us now to set up a free consultation.