Is It True You Must Wait To Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?

People who apply for Social Security disability benefits think they'll start receiving payments as soon as their case is approved. Unfortunately, this is not true. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented a waiting period for payments that apply to everyone across the board. Here's why that is and what you can do for money in the meantime:

Screens Short-Term Disabilities

The SSA will not disburse payments to eligible disability recipients until five months after the person's application has been approved. Even if it takes the SSA a year to review your case and grant your request for benefits, you still won't receive your first check until nearly half a year later.

The good news is, depending on how long it takes the SSA to look at your application, you may be entitled to back payments. Going back to the previous example, you would receive lump sum check for the 12 months you had to wait to get approved. The bad news is, you wouldn't get that money until five months later, which can be problematic if you are unable to work because of your disability.

Ideas for Supporting Yourself

Although you may be approved for benefits in the future, you still need to pay your bills and other living expenses now. There are a few ways you can cobble together some money and resources to stay afloat while you're waiting.

The first thing you should know is that you can still earn income while receiving disability, though you are limited to getting paid a maximum of $1,410 per month. If you make any more than that, your benefits will be reduced. While your disability may prevent you from working at your old job, there may be other ways to earn money that won't aggravate your condition.

For instance, you could make money online as a freelance writer or digital artist if you have those skills. Many people sell homemade products on Etsy or refurbished items on eBay. You can find a lot of ideas for making money from home on the internet. Alternatively, talk to an employment counselor to see what types of jobs you could work in your condition.

Another way to get money to support yourself is to apply for other public assistance programs, such as TANF and SNAP. These social programs typically provide people with a small monthly stipend to purchase food and other necessities for a short period of time. Even though it may not be much, it may help you get through the barren months until your disability payments begin.

For more ideas on where to get money to support yourself while waiting for your SSD benefits or help getting your application approved, contact a social security disability attorney


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