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If you have not yet received approval for your Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, it is difficult to know when you may gain approval and get your back pay. This is especially true if you are in the process of appealing a denial. This process can last several months or drag on for a year or more. Once you begin getting monthly deposits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), your back pay should come automatically within a few months.
Ensuring you get the SSD benefits you deserve is not as easy as it seems. If you received a denial, a Disability lawyer can help you navigate the appeals process.
As Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Lawyers, we can file your request for reconsideration and represent you in front of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at your hearing, which can take place by phone, video conference, or in person. We can fight for your benefits and help you get the income and back pay you deserve. We’re ready to help you learn more about your rights.
Back pay is the benefits you qualified for but were not paid while the SSA reviewed your application. Usually, back pay stems from an applicant having to file an appeal after receiving a denial letter. While we fight for your monthly benefits, the pay you qualify for but have not yet been approved to receive accumulates. This is back pay.
The appeals process is time-consuming, and it takes several months to navigate each step. You may have to wait years for your claim to finally receive approval, although your disability prevents you from working throughout this time. This can be an extremely stressful time. Having a disability benefits attorney on your side may help you keep fighting for the benefits you deserve.
A legal representative can protect your rights and inform you regularly about what is happening with your claim. The appeals process can seem like a waiting game. It can take over a year and include a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). If this is not successful, we will review whether additional appeals would be beneficial in your case.
SSDI back pay comes as a lump-sum payment. The SSA issues this payment separately from your regular monthly deposit.
While this one-time deposit does not occur immediately after you receive approval, the processing time is fairly quick. It may take a few months after your first regular benefits check to see this large deposit. If it takes more time, we follow up with Social Security for our clients to pinpoint what may be causing the delay.
Some people may qualify for additional back pay based on when their disability first occurred and when they applied for benefits. This type of back pay, known as retroactive benefits, covers a maximum of one year before you filed for SSDI.
For example, imagine you suffered a back injury that left you unable to work last March, but you did not file for SSDI until December. Once you receive approval, you may also qualify for retroactive benefits to cover the months between September and December.
As noted earlier, a five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits is mandatory for all disability claims. This means even if you receive approval the month after you apply, you will not be eligible to receive benefits until five months after the date you reported your disability. The five-month waiting period also applies to retroactive or back pay.
For example, earlier, we mentioned a situation where your debilitating injury occurred in March, but you did not apply for benefits until December. In this case, your retroactive back pay would cover only September through December. The first five months of the period would count as your waiting period.
There is no waiting period for SSI, so your benefits begin the month after your claim gains initial approval or you win your appeal. Your back pay will cover the months between your application date and the date you received approval.
The SSA pays SSI back pay as three installments instead of as a lump sum like SSDI. Within a few months of receiving your first SSI monthly benefit, you should receive one-third of your back pay. A second payment follows six months later, and the final payment occurs after another six months.
There are no retroactive benefits available for SSI. Let’s say you applied for SSI in June, but your claim was denied. After a successful appeals process, you received approval in January. Your back pay will cover the months between July and January. If you receive your first back-pay deposit in April, you will receive a second installment in October and the final payment the following April.
The Social Security Administration offers two distinct types of benefits. Back pay can be applied to either of them if you meet the other criteria (i.e., you qualify for that benefit and the SSA took additional time to decide your case).
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for those who spent a certain number of years paying into Social Security as a condition of their job and are now unable to work due to a disability.
Unlike SSDI, there is no work requirement to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Rather, your ability to receive SSI depends entirely on your financial situation. If you have a disability and very limited resources, you could qualify.
It may sound obvious to say that you must have a disability to qualify for Social Security Disability. However, determining what is and is not a disability can be complicated. The SSA has rules regarding what counts as a disability, and applicants must prove they meet that definition to receive benefits.
For SSA purposes, a condition only counts as disabling if it meets the following criteria.
A second component of qualifying for Disability is proving to the SSA that you are unable to make enough money to survive or support your family. The maximum amount you can earn and still qualify for benefits is adjusted each year. The amounts included below are accurate for 2025.
Navigating the process to secure the disability benefits payments you deserve is not easy, especially when you receive an initial denial of benefits. At Berger and Green, we can guide you through the appeals process and help you understand how much back pay you can expect once you gain approval.
We have helped thousands of people with injuries and disabilities seek their benefits during our 40 years of service. The application process can be challenging to follow, but when you put your case in our hands, we aim to make it as easy for you as possible.
We review your initial application as well as why the SSA rejected your claim. We also:
We know this may seem like a lot of work, especially if you are still trying to adjust to life with a disability. Berger and Green does not want you to suffer under any legal burden. We make it easier for clients to pursue whatever benefits they are entitled to receive.
If you have not yet received approval for your Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, it can be challenging to know what back pay you qualify for. This is especially true if you are in the process of appealing a denial, which can last for several months or a year or more. Once you begin getting monthly deposits from the SSA, your back pay should come automatically within a few months.
Ensuring you get the SSD benefits you deserve is not as easy as it seems. If you receive a denial, a lawyer can navigate the appeals process. Berger and Green’s Social Security Disability attorneys can file your request for reconsideration and represent you in front of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at your hearing, which can take place by phone, video conference, or in person.
We will fight for your benefits and help you get the income and back pay you deserve. We’re ready to help you learn more about your rights. Below are common questions we receive about SSD back pay. If you don’t see your question answered here or need more information for your situation, call us today for a free consultation.
You do not have to wait for a denial to take advantage of our legal services. Our team can help you apply for Social Security Disability benefits.
When considering how long it will take to get Social Security Disability benefits, you must remember two key days:
With these two dates in mind, it is important to file your disability claim with SSA if you expect your condition to last at least a year (12 months) or longer. Before you file, you should ensure your condition meets the SSA’s definition of disability.
Our Pittsburgh Social Security Disability attorneys can explain how long it could take for you to get disability back payments. We will answer any questions you have during a free consultation.
We encourage you not to let concerns about fees stop you from reaching out to us for guidance. We do not charge for our services unless your claim is approved. During your consultation, we can also explain how the federal government regulates the Social Security Disability lawyer fees we receive to handle your case.