Obtaining Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits may take several months. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the SSI program, which provides cash payments to disabled individuals in need of economic assistance.
What this essentially means is that you may be entitled to back pay for the months during which you awaited approval. But what if it takes longer than anticipated for your benefits to come through? How far back do these back payments really go? In order to find out, we must fully understand what the SSI back pay is, the factors that affect it, and how to calculate it.
What Exactly Is Back Pay?
Back pay refers to payments you are entitled to receive from the SSA between the time you applied and the time your claim was approved. Depending on how long it took to approve your claim, your back pay may be insignificant.
However, since we must go through the appeals procedure before your benefits are approved, the missed payments can rapidly increase. Each stage of the appeals procedure can take many months, and while you wait for the SSA's judgment, your back pay adds up.
Factors Affecting Back Pay
SSI does not award retroactive payments. This means you are not eligible for compensation for the months you were disabled before you applied for benefits. The amount of back pay you receive is determined by three factors:
1. Date You Submitted Your Application
SSDI benefits may be available for up to a year before the application date. This implies you will earn back pay benefits for a maximum of 12 months.
2. Date Of Disability Onset
The claims examiner or an administrative law judge establishes this date. It is not always the date on which you ceased employment owing to your medical condition.
3. Early Interval Of Waiting
To begin receiving back pay, you must wait five months following the commencement of your injury. If your claim is approved within five months of the commencement of your impairment, you will not be reimbursed for the waiting period. (Due to the faster approval procedure for Compassionate Allowances, many individuals with qualifying conditions do not receive back compensation.)
The onset date of your impairment has the greatest impact on your eligibility for back pay, which is why you must present documentation to support the earliest feasible onset date. The easiest method to accomplish this is to work with a lawyer who is familiar with SSDI cases. Your lawyer will know how to document your ailment in a way that fits the program's disability definition.
How Does SSA Calculate Back Pay?
The SSA analyses a number of variables when determining the amount of back pay to which you are entitled, including the following:
- When you submitted your application for benefits
- When the Social Security Administration confirms your claim
The calculation is quite straightforward. The Social Security Administration multiplies the months between your application date and your approval date by your monthly payment. If you receive the maximum payment of $735 and the SSA approves your claim after eight months, you are entitled to $5,880 in back pay.
How Are Back Payments Made?
Generally, Social Security pays past-due benefits for SSI or combined SSI/SSDI in three equal installments spaced by six months. However, you may qualify for bigger first and second installments if you require funds for "essentials" (housing, food, or medical requirements) or to repay debts related to necessities.
Alternatively, if you are not expected to live beyond the following 12 months or are no longer eligible for SSI benefits at the time you get your back pay, you may be eligible for a single lump-sum payment (and not expected to become eligible for benefits within the next 12 months).
When Will You Receive Your Back Payment?
You should begin receiving payments the next month after approval. This ensures that any back pay you are owed should cover each month, beginning with the first full month following the date of your application. Payments are refunded in stages by the SSI. You will receive a third of the back salary you are owed shortly after approval, another third six months later, and the last third six months later.
Note: If the Social Security Administration determines that you are "presumed handicapped," you may begin collecting benefits before the SSA approves your application.
Conclusion
It can be difficult and frustrating to apply for disability benefits. However, it's always good to know the facts and understand how to boost your application. To learn more about how to calculate your social security disability payment, check out this Disability Help’s article today.
