You’ll Receive an Award Letter

After your SSI claim is approved, the SSA will send you an official award letter. This document confirms:

• The amount of your monthly benefit
• When your payments will begin
• Any back pay (past-due benefits) you're owed
• Information about future reviews or reporting responsibilities

Be sure to read this letter carefully and keep it for your records. If anything looks incorrect, contact the SSA right away.

SSI Back Pay Will Be Issued

If your claim took several months (or longer) to approve, you’re likely entitled to back pay—benefits from the time you applied to the time you were approved. Here’s how it works:

• SSI back pay is usually issued in installments, not a lump sum.
• You’ll typically receive your back pay in three separate payments, spaced six months apart.
• If you have an urgent financial need, you can request faster payment, but approval is not guaranteed.

Monthly Benefits Will Begin

Once your SSI is approved, monthly payments will start. Your payment date depends on your birthdate and the SSA’s schedule, but most SSI payments are made on the 1st of each month.

Your monthly benefit amount may be affected by:

• Your income and living situation
• State supplements (some states add to the federal SSI payment)
• Changes in financial status, which must be reported to the SSA

You May Become Eligible for Medicaid

In most states, SSI approval automatically qualifies you for Medicaid, a government health insurance program for low-income individuals. Medicaid can help cover:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Mental health services
• Medications
• In-home care and long-term care services

This can be a huge help, especially if your disability requires regular medical treatment.

You’ll Need to Report Changes

To keep receiving SSI benefits, you must report any changes in your:

• Income
• Resources (like bank accounts, property, etc.)
• Living arrangements
• Marital status
• Medical condition (if it improves)

Failing to report changes can result in overpayments, which the SSA will expect you to repay, or even benefit termination.

Expect Periodic Reviews

Even after you're approved, the SSA will conduct Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) to make sure you still meet SSI eligibility requirements. These reviews typically occur:

• Every 3 to 7 years, depending on your medical condition
• More often if the SSA believes your condition may improve

As long as your disability continues and you're still financially eligible, your benefits should continue.

You Can Return to Work (With Caution)

While SSI is need-based, you can still work and earn some income while receiving benefits—as long as you stay within the SSA’s income limits. Programs like Ticket to Work and Earned Income Exclusions allow you to test your ability to work without immediately losing your SSI.

It’s important to:

• Report your earnings every month
• Stay under the income/resource thresholds
• Understand how your income may reduce your SSI payment