Understanding Disability Back Pay

When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there’s usually a significant waiting period before your claim is approved. If your application is successful, the SSA will pay you retroactively for the months you were eligible but hadn’t yet started receiving payments.

SSDI Back Pay

• Eligibility Date: Your back pay is calculated from the date the SSA determines you became disabled (called your “established onset date” or EOD).
• 5-Month Waiting Period: SSDI has a built-in 5-month waiting period from your EOD before you can start receiving benefits. So your back pay starts after those first 5 months.
• Retroactive Pay (Up to 12 Months): You may also qualify for retroactive pay for up to 12 months before your application date, depending on when your disability actually began and if you were eligible at the time.

SSI Back Pay

• SSI back pay is calculated from the date of your application, not your disability onset date.
• There is no 5-month waiting period like with SSDI.
• Back pay for SSI is often paid in installments rather than a single lump sum.

How Is Back Pay Received?

• Lump Sum (SSDI): You usually receive all SSDI back pay in a single lump sum.
• Installments (SSI): If you’re receiving SSI, your back pay may come in up to three separate payments, spaced six months apart—especially if the amount is large.