How Much Is Your First SSDI Check?

You’ve probably been waiting a long time for your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The application process is lengthy and frustrating. But now that you’ve been approved, you might wonder how your first SSDI check will look.

When you get notice of your approval, the letter will tell you:

• When you will begin receiving payments
• The total of your monthly payments

Disability benefits are not the same for everyone. Your payments depend on how much you paid into Social Security and how much you’ve worked in the last 10 years.

The first SSDI payment might be more than your regular monthly payments. You might receive back payments that will cover the months before you received approval.

Will the First SSDI Check Include Back Payments?

After the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves you for SSDI, you will probably receive back payments (“backpay”). Back payments will depend on when you became disabled and your entitlement date.

• The SSA determines an established onset date (EOD), the date you became unable to work because of your condition.
• Your date of entitlement is five months after your EOD. There is a five-month waiting period before you can receive SSDI benefits.
• If it takes a while for the SSA to approve your claim, you might receive back pay.
• Back payments cover the time between your date of entitlement and when you are approved for benefits.

The SSDI process is rarely fast. Many applicants wait for months or years to get approval, which can feel like forever. Back payments cover the time you were not receiving benefits as you waited for approval.

For example, say that your EOD was 15 months before you got approved. After subtracting five months for the waiting period, that’s 10 months you went without benefits. The SSA sends you back pay for 10 months of benefits. You could potentially get thousands of dollars.

When Will SSDI Back Payments Come?

The SSA provides back payments as a lump sum. You might receive your back pay with your first SSDI payment, but not always.

Back pay usually comes within 60 days of SSDI approval. However, some people will get their back payments immediately. Other times, it can take months to receive back pay.

If you have not received your back payments, contact a Social Security Disability lawyer. You might need help getting the cash you deserve. To get a FREE consultation with one of our experienced lawyers, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.

Will the First SSDI Benefits Include Insurance?

You can receive Medicare benefits after you’ve been eligible for SSDI for two years. That means two years after your date of entitlement. It does not mean you have to wait two years after SSDI approval or your payments start.

Since SSDI cases can take so long, you might be able to get Medicare benefits as soon as your first SSDI payment. To learn more, talk to your Social Security Disability lawyer.

What About Dependent Benefits?

Disabled children, minor children, dependent parents, and older spouses can sometimes receive dependent benefits. If a family member is eligible for SSDI benefits too, you might receive additional payments. The other benefits can affect the value of your first SSDI check (and future payments).

Is the First SSDI Payment Always a Paper Check?

Most of the time, you won’t get a physical check for SSDI. Social Security prefers that you sign up for direct deposit. The payment will go straight to your bank account, so it’s usually best for everyone. It’s also the fastest way to get your SSDI benefits.

If you applied for SSDI after May 1, 2011, you must have direct deposit or use an SSA debit card. The SSA can put your payments on a debit card for you to use. However, the most secure and convenient method is direct deposit.

After the SSA approves your claim, it will ask how you want to receive your first SSDI payment. You can choose how you want to get all future monthly benefits. You’ll also get a Social Security statement each year showing your total SSDI payments for the past year.

Talk to a Social Security Disability Lawyer for Free Today

Waiting for your first SSDI check can feel like an eternity. At John Foy & Associates, we know how important it is to get your benefits as soon as possible. Our Social Security Disability lawyers are here to help.

We can help you with each step of the application process. If SSA denies your claim, but you know you should qualify, we can help you appeal the denial. We’ll also answer any of your questions during a FREE consultation.

We do not collect a fee unless we win you money. There is no risk to you. To schedule a FREE, no-risk consultation, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.