How far back monetary disability payments go depends upon two factors:
- Is it a Disability Insurance Benefits Claim (DIB ) or an SSI claim;
- When the claim was filed
DIB
This depends upon when the claim was filed v. when disability is being alleged. The SSA will pay no more than 12 months of back-pay before the initial claim was filed. On top of this, the SSA will cut-off the first 5 months of a disabled worker’s back pay, as they need to see evidence of 5 months of continued disability before a person’s back pay begins. The back-pay is, thus, payable on the 6th month following the date the medical evidence establishes disability. Therefore, for an disabled worker to qualify for the maximum amount of back pay—her or she is entitled to receive—he or she must be found disabled no later than 17 months before the date their disability application was filed.
Example 1
John Smith filed an initial application for disability insurance benefits on January 1, 2018. John claims disability as of January 1, 2017. He is successful and is found disabled, based upon the medical records, as of January 1, 2017. John Smith’s back pay will extend backward to July 1, 2017.
Example 2
Jane Smith filed an initial application for disability insurance benefits on January 1, 2018. Jane claims disability as of July 1, 2016. She is successful, and she is found disabled, based upon the medical records, as of July 1, 2016. Jane Smith’s back pay will extend backward to January 1, 2017.
SSI
In an SSI application, there is no waiting period involved. However, the SSA will not pay “back-pay” before the filing of the initial application.
Example 1
John Smith filed an initial application for SSI on January 1, 2018. He is successful, and a favorable decision is issued; the medical evidence establishes disability as of January 1, 2018. His back-pay extends to January 1, 2018.
Example 2
Jane Smith files an application for SSI on January 1, 2018. She is successful, and a favorable decision is issued. The medical evidence, however, does not establish disability to until March 1, 2018. Her back-pay extends to March 1, 2018.
