What Is the Elimination Period for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are federally funded and administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). If you have been employed long enough and have a physical condition that prohibits you from working for at least one year or is projected to result in death, Social Security will provide disability payments to you and specified members of your family.

However, it’s important to understand that there is an elimination period before you can access these benefits. Experienced SSDI attorneys at Kenton Koszdin Law Office can guide you through this process and help you understand the intricacies of the elimination period for Social Security Disability benefits.

What Is the Elimination Period?

The elimination period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits begins on the disability onset date, which is the date your illness, injury, or medical condition can officially be classified as disabling.

The SSDI waiting period spans five consecutive months. If you continue to have a disabling condition after this five-month waiting period and meet all other eligibility criteria, you are qualified to receive disability benefits. However, if your condition improves and you no longer have a disabling condition after the five-month period, the Social Security Administration will reject your application.

Once the elimination period is over, and provided you still have a disabling condition and have received approval, you should start receiving SSDI benefits.

However, the SSA may take more than five months to process and approve certain claims. In such cases, you might receive back pay for the duration you were waiting for the SSA to process and approve your application.

For instance, suppose that your claim was approved eight months after your disability onset date. In that case, you can receive three months of retroactive pay (eight months minus the five-month elimination period).

You may also receive retroactive benefits if the SSA determines that your disability onset date was earlier than your application date. For example, if your disability onset date was seven months before your application date, you would be able to receive two months of retroactive pay (seven months minus the five-month elimination period).

However, the total retroactive pay is limited to 12 months. If you wait too long to apply for SSDI benefits, you could miss out on money you would otherwise have been eligible for.

Why Does the SSA Implement a Five-Month Elimination Period?

The primary objective of the Social Security elimination period is to distinguish between applicants who have a long-term disability and those who have a short-term disability. If your disability persists beyond the waiting period, the SSA views your condition as a long-term disability that fulfills the SSDI benefits eligibility criteria.

Your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) may require you to undergo a medical examination for Social Security Disability. The DDS will then review the doctor’s report and other specific aspects of your case to determine whether you qualify for a disability benefit.

Exemptions to the Waiting Period for Social Security Disability Benefits

Some circumstances may allow you to bypass the standard five-month waiting period for disability benefits:

Prior Receipt of Disability Benefits

If the SSA previously approved your application for disability benefits, but those benefits were discontinued less than five years ago, you may be able to bypass the waiting period when you reapply. This is possible through a request for expedited reinstatement of your benefits.

Your request is more likely to be successful if your benefits were discontinued because you resumed work and exceeded the earning limit set for disability beneficiaries.

During the review of your request, you may be legally eligible to receive provisional benefits for up to six months while the SSA determines your eligibility for traditional SSDI benefits.

Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A federal law enacted in 2019 eliminated the waiting period for applicants with disabling conditions resulting from ALS. If the SSA determines that your disability began due to ALS, you may be eligible to receive disability benefits from the first month of your diagnosis.

Receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

Another way to bypass the five-month waiting period is by applying for disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. If the SSA approves your application, you could start receiving disability benefits from the first month of your disability onset date.

One of the advantages of SSI benefits is that the eligibility requirements are generally easier to meet compared to SSDI. However, it’s worth noting that SSI benefits are typically significantly lower than what you would receive from SSDI.

Should I Delay Applying for Benefits Until the Elimination Period Has Concluded?

There is no need to wait; you can submit your disability benefits application during the elimination period.

The SSA takes three to five months, on average, to decide whether someone can receive a disability benefit. Even if you submit your application soon after becoming disabled, you might not get a decision until after the elimination period has ended. That’s why it’s best to submit your disability benefits application as soon as possible.

If you wait until after the elimination period to apply, you may have to wait several more months for a decision. But by getting your application in during the elimination period, you can expect a decision soon after it ends. The key is to get your disability benefits application started early.

How Can Kenton Koszdin Law Office Help?

At Kenton Koszdin Law Office, we believe in empowering our clients with knowledge and providing them with experienced legal representation. We are dedicated to helping you secure the Social Security Disability benefits you need to maintain your quality of life.

If you or a loved one is struggling with applying for SSDI benefits, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let our experienced Social Security Disability lawyers help you. Contact Kenton Koszdin Law Office today for a free consultation.