If you know anything at all about the Social Security disability (SSD) application process, it’s probably that it can take a very long time to get approved for benefits. What you may not know is that when you are ultimately approved, you may be owed a significant amount of benefits.
These benefits come in two forms: benefits owed to you from the date of your application, and in some cases benefits reaching back up to one year prior to the time you applied for SSD.
SSD Back Pay and Retroactive Benefits
Back Pay is Based on Your Filing Date, Not Approval
If you’re approved for SSD, you may be entitled to back pay.
Back pay may be owed to you if your application is ultimately approved, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is saying you were eligible when you applied.
There’s a five-month waiting period after you become disabled, but once that has been satisfied, your benefits are backdated. For those who are approved at the initial application stage, this may mean just a few months of back benefits. But, if you have to go through reconsideration and an ALJ hearing to get approved, it may take two years or more from the time you apply to the time you are approved. When that happens, you can expect a substantial lump sum payment to catch up.
This is one reason it’s important not to miss any deadlines in the appeals process. If you miss out on an appeal and have to start the application process all over, you’ll lose out on benefits for any date before your claim was denied.
Retroactive Benefits May Add up to 12 Months of SSD Benefits
Your eligibility for disability is based on the date you became disabled. However, many people don’t file for Social Security disability benefits right away. When you are approved for SSD benefits, the SSA will look at the date you became disabled, and then apply a five-month waiting period. If that five-month waiting period ends earlier than the month when you applied for SSD, you may be entitled to retroactive benefits.
So, if you became disabled 10 months before you applied, you could be eligible for five months of retroactive benefits. (10 months of disability minus the five month waiting period.) But, if you became disabled 17 months or more before you applied, you could be entitled to 12 months of retroactive benefits. You can’t get more than 12 months of retroactive benefits, even if you became disabled more than 17 months before applying. So, it’s in your best interest not to wait too long to apply for disability benefits.
Make Sure You Get all the SSD Benefits You Deserve
A simple mistake like reapplying instead of pursuing an appeal could lose you months or even a year or more of benefits. Most people applying for SSD aren’t familiar with every aspect of the process and the appeals process, and you don’t have to be. At Disability Help Group, our advocates have extensive experience helping people like you assemble the strongest possible application or appeal. To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-3332 or contact us here now.
The short answer to this question is “maybe.” The Social Security Administration (SSA) does recognize depression as a possible cause of disability.
Millions of Americans suffer from depression, with symptoms including (but not limited to):
Suicidal ideation
Poor concentration
Decreased energy
Loss of interest in activities
Memory problems
Sleep changes
Irritability/agitation
Not everyone who has been diagnosed with depression is eligible for Social Security disability benefits (SSD).
How Does the SSA Determine SSD Eligibility for Depression?
Depression falls under the Listing of Impairments in the Social Security Blue Book. The Blue Book lists specific criteria for each condition. To qualify for disability based on the listing, an SSD applicant must fulfill the requirements in paragraph A below AND the requirements in EITHER paragraph B or paragraph C:
Suffer from at least five of a longer list of depression symptoms, which include:
Depressed mood
Diminished interest in nearly all activities
Appetite disturbance with weight change
Sleep disturbance
Psychomotor agitation or retardation
Decreased energy
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Difficulting concentrating or thinking
Thoughts of death or suicide
Show extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following:
Ability to understand, remember, and apply information
Ability to interact with others
Ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
Ability to adapt or to manage oneself
Show all of the following:
A medically documented history of the condition existing for at least two years
Ongoing medical care, therapy, and/or a structured environment that reduces symptoms
Minimal capacity to adapt to changes in environment
What If You Don’t Meet The Blue Book Criteria?
If you don’t meet the Listing requirements above, don’t give up. People who don’t meet a Listing can still qualify for SSD if they can so that they are medically unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). This is a more complex assessment in which the SSA looks at what types of work you have done in the past, your educational level, and your age to determine whether you are capable of earning a living despite your disability.
Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
Demonstrating that you are disabled by a mental health condition can be more difficult than securing benefits for some physical disabilities. That’s because an X-ray or more sophisticated scan will show exactly how deteriorated your spine is, but there’s no objective test to prove that you’ve lost energy or are feeling anxious.
Whether you’re just applying for SSD for depression or you have been denied and want to appeal, your best next step is to talk to an experienced disability benefits advocate. At Disability Help Group, our advocates know the type of documentation required to establish a claim and how best to prove the severity of your disabling condition. To learn more about how we can help, call us at (800) 800-3332, or contact us here.
Applying for–and perhaps fighting for–Social Security disability benefits is challenging for most people. If you’re struggling with a condition like anxiety, it can be even tougher. Having the right assistance can help ensure that you’ve put together the strongest application possible. It can also significantly reduce the stress associated with the process. Here’s what you need to know about getting the help you need.
What is Anxiety?
Most of us experience anxiousness at times. That’s different from having an anxiety disorder. A condition like generalized anxiety disorder can have a significant impact on your daily life, including the ability to earn a living.
Does the Social Security Administration (SSA) Recognize This Disorder As A Disability?
This disorder is included in the Social Security Blue Book–a listing of conditions and related symptoms and limitations that may qualify a person for SSD benefits. However, that doesn’t mean being diagnosed with this disorder automatically qualifies you for SSD. The Blue Book sets forth very specific criteria for a person with an anxiety disorder to qualify for disability benefits.
When you submit an application for SSD benefits for this disorder, it’s important that you provide documentation that supports a determination of disability.
That means understanding the Blue Book criteria and the other factors the SSA considers in assessing an SSD application. It also means ensuring that you have solid medical documentation. Since this disorder isn’t objectively measurable or determined by a test, it can be more difficult to establish a claim for this type of disability.
Get the Help You Need with your Claim
If you haven’t yet applied for SSD benefits, it’s in your best interest to consult an experienced disability benefits advocate right away. Your best chance at getting an approval on the first round and saving months or years is to submit the strongest possible application and documentation.
The seasoned advocates at Disability Help Group know what the SSA is looking for and how to clearly and effectively present the relevant information. We know how important it is for you to have knowledgeable guidance, so we offer free case reviews.
Already been denied? Don’t worry. The SSA offers a multi-step appeals process. But, deadlines are tight, so you’ll want to get help right away when you receive a denial.
Getting started is easy. Just call (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here now.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security Disability in 2024
If you’re currently receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSD), you may have noticed that your January benefits were a bit higher than they were last year. That’s because the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to disability benefits. These increases have been notable over the past couple of years–with inflation high, the increase in SSD benefits was high, too.
In 2023, Social Security disability benefits increased by 8.7%. Now, with the rate of inflation significantly lower, the cost-of-living adjustment is smaller. Still, SSD recipients will see an increase in 2024, and the SSA will assess again at the end of the year to determine the COLA for 2025.
How Much Will Disability Benefits Increase in 2024?
In 2024, the COLA increase is 3.2%.
Exactly what that means in terms of dollars depends on the amount of your regular monthly benefit. For example, the maximum monthly SSD benefit will increase from $3,627.00 to $3,822–just shy of $200/month. In January of 2023, the average disabled worker receiving SSD benefits got $1,483.11/month. In 2024, that increases to $1,530.57.
Who Else Benefits from the SSA COLA?
According to the SSA, about 71 million Americans will see an increase in benefits in 2024. That includes retirees, SSD recipients, those receiving survivors’ benefits, and SSI recipients. The percentage increase is the same across the board. The Veterans Administration (VA) also relies on the SSA cost-of-living calculation to adjust benefits. That means those receiving VA disability benefits will see the same increase.
Your SSD Cost-of-Living Increase is Automatic
You don’t have to do anything to receive increased benefits. Both the SSA and the VA make the adjustments automatically for the new year. Knowing what to expect in the coming year can help SSD recipients and those who receive other benefits tied to the SSA’s COLA plan for the year ahead.
Get Help With Social Security Disability Today
If you aren’t yet receiving SSD benefits and believe you may be qualified, your best next step is to talk to an experienced disability benefits advocate. Whether you are just considering applying for Social Security disability benefits or have already been denied, Disability Help Group is here for you.
Our experienced advocates know what type of information and documentation the SSA is looking for, and can help you build the strongest application or appeal possible.
Most Social Security disability claims are initially denied. While there are no guarantees, there are things you can do to increase the chances of approval. Here are some key dos and don’ts for putting together and submitting your application for SSD benefits.
SSD Application Dos
Submitting the strongest possible Social Security Disability application starts with thoroughly understanding the process and what type of evidence the Social Security Administration (SSA) is looking for.
Some important steps to take when preparing your claim for Social Security disability benefits include:
Make sure you complete all forms correctly and completely. Do not skip questions or provide incomplete responses.
Understand what type of medical proof is required and supply sufficient medical records and documentation.
Make sure you provide names and contact information for all doctors treating you for the condition.
Identify anyone in your life who may be able to provide information about the limitations you face in daily life due to your condition.
Continue to see your doctor, get any follow-up tests or treatments, and take prescribed medication.
If your doctor downplays your condition, seek out a new provider who takes your symptoms seriously.
Get the help you need to put together a strong Social Security Disability application or appeal.
Be honest. Make sure to provide all relevant information about your condition, but don’t exaggerate your symptoms or limitations.
SSD Application Don’ts
Miss deadlines, especially if you have to request reconsideration or an appeal hearing–if you have to start the process over again, you could significantly delay your benefits and lose some back benefits.
Fail to respond to a request from the Social Security Administration (SSA), such as your attendance at a consultative exam.
Apply while you are still earning more than the substantial gainful activity cut-off (in 2024, $1,550/month for non-blind applicants and $2,590 for blind applicants.
Make unnecessary mistakes because you don’t know the ins and outs of Social Security disability applications and appeals.
Talk to a Disability Benefits Advocate Today
One of the best steps you can toward submitting the strongest possible SSD application is to get the right help. At Disability Help Group, our advocates are dedicated to fighting for the benefits you deserve. To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-3332 or contact us here now.
