Is There a Waiting Period for SSDI Benefits? | Beacon Disability

A common misunderstanding when it comes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is that there is a waiting period from when you are found to be disabled by the Social Security Administration (also known as your onset date) and the first month in which SSDI benefits are payable to you.

My name is Kaitlin Wildoner and I’m an attorney who helps disabled clients obtain their disability benefits as quickly as possible so they can focus on getting better.

Today we’re going to answer a common question, is there a waiting period for SSDI benefits? Yes, there is a waiting period for SSDI benefits and it’s a period of five full calendar months from the onset of your disability before you can start receiving SSDI benefits.

The waiting period is designed to ensure that SSDI benefits are only provided to those who have a long-term disability that prevents them from working and earning a living. It’s important to note that the five-month waiting period begins from the onset date of your disability, not from the date that you filed your SSDI application.

If you’re approved for SSDI benefits, your first payment will be for the sixth full month after the onset of your disability. For example, if your disability began on January 1^st, your five-month waiting period would be over on May 31st and your first SSDI payment would be for the month of June. SSDI payments are paid a month behind so the first month that you would actually receive a payment would be July.

Additionally, the five-month waiting period only applies to SSDI benefits, not to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

If you have a disability that’s expected to last for 12 months or more, you should apply for SSDI benefits as soon as possible to ensure that you receive benefits as soon as you are eligible. The SSDI application process can take several months to years so it’s important to apply as soon as you can.

To recap, there is a waiting period of five full calendar months for SSDI benefits from the onset date of your disability before you can actually start to receive benefits under SSDI. SSI benefits do not have that same waiting period, but with SSI benefits you cannot receive those benefits until the month in which you apply for SSI. Therefore, if you have a long-term disability, it’s important to apply for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible to ensure that you receive benefits as soon as you become eligible.

Thanks so much for watching. If you’re disabled and unable to work, click the scheduling link here or give us a call directly for a free consultation where we discuss your case and see what I can do to help you.