If you are facing a disability and have to go on Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI, then you may have questions about how long you can stay on SSDI. It’s actually a good question and worth considering before you even apply for SSDI.
When Does SSDI End?
SSDI doesn’t run out like unemployment does. However, in the case that you get better from a medical standpoint and you are able to work again, then you could lose your SSDI benefits. The Social Security Administration or SSA also allows you to enter into a trial work period to test the waters on returning to work.
There is a hard cap on when your SSDI benefits will technically end though. This cap occurs once you hit full retirement age which is currently set at 67 for those born in 1960 and after. If you were born before 1960, subtract your birth year from 1960, double it and subtract the resulting number in months from 67 to determine your full retirement age.
Once you hit full retirement age, you stop getting SSDI benefits and start receiving regular retirement benefits. This is significant because it means that your status isn’t up for review and you don’t have to worry about your SSDI benefits being taken from you.
Can You Enroll in SSDI Before 5 months?
There is a 5-month waiting period before your disability benefits can begin. This 5-month period begins after your Established Onset Date or EOD which will be once again determined by the SSA, though you do have the chance to submit your own onset date which they refer to as your Alleged Onset Date or AOD.
Keep in mind though that there is a 5-month waiting period. This doesn’t mean you should wait 5 months before filing for SSDI, but rather that even if you are approved immediately—which almost never happens—you will not typically receive your benefits until 5 months have passed from the onset date of your disability.
Read More: Can You Get Disability Benefits For Months Prior to Applying?
Is There a Minimum Length for SSDI?
SSDI is not available for conditions that last less than 12 months. However, you should begin the process immediately after your disability prevents you from working. You don’t have to be disabled for 12 months before you can collect SSDI payments, but your disability has to be expected to continue for at least 12 months.
Whether or not your disability will last for 12 months will be determined by the Social Security Administration based on the available medical evidence. For this reason, you need to ensure that all of your medical records are up to date and that you regularly see a doctor for your disability. A doctor can also write a letter on your behalf to the SSA.
This may be a little bit on the darker side of this question, but what about a scenario in which you are likely going to die before 12 months? In that case, you can still generally collect for any period after your initial 5-month waiting period.
What is Changing for SSDI in 2023?
Need Help Getting Approved For SSDI Benefits?
Tabak Law is ready to help you get the SSDI benefits that you deserve. If you have applied for SSDI and been denied, then our law firm may be able to help. Reach out to us for a free case review today!
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