After waiting months (even years) to get your Social Security hearing, and then months more to get the decision, you finally have it! Social Security has found you disabled. It is “Favorable” (either Fully Favorable or Partly Favorable).
Ok, now what? When do my benefits begin?
Here’s the thing: Social Security disability claims have two parts:
Part 1. Determining if you are disabled? That was what the hearing was about.
Part 2. Determining your eligibility for benefits, the benefit amount, and the amount of back benefits if any.
Part 1 is done. Part 2 is just starting…
Social Security needs to determine your monthly benefits and the amount of your back benefits.
If you were applying for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your benefits for each program are calculated separately by different Social Security offices. In other words, your file now flies off in two separate directions. SSDI is processed by a regional payment center, while your SSI benefits are processed by your local Social Security office.
Once the processing is complete, you will receive separate notices about your benefits for each program. In the upper left side of each notice it will either say “Retirement, Survivors & Disability Insurance” or “Supplemental Security Income.” That is how you know whether the letter is talking about your SSDI or SSI benefits.
Your SSDI benefits will probably be calculated first. Once your monthly benefits and back benefits are calculated you will receive a “Notice of Award” letter, summarizing your benefits. This is usually followed by an “Important Information” letter, which gives you more information, including when you can expect payment.
Your SSI benefits are handled by your local Social Security office. You have to be disabled and qualify financially to receive SSI. Your local Social Security office will contact you to go over your income and assets to see if you still qualify. Please note: Social Security will consider your SSDI benefits in determining your financial eligibility for SSI. So, your SSI benefits may be reduced or eliminated for any months that you also receive SSDI benefits.
Just as under the SSDI program, you will receive a “Notice of Award” letter followed by an “Important Information” letter describing your Supplemental Security Income benefits and when you can expect a check.
Processing your benefits should take approximately thirty (30) to ninety (90) days.
The good news is that this part of your Social Security case is mostly automatic. You may be asked to provide paystubs, bank statements or other documents, but remember you are in the home stretch!
photo credit: thomas_sly
Trying to find out the decision from the law judge about my SSI
Your blog is a wealth of information. You have answered so many of my questions.
Thank you.
Still waiting for a result regarding my SSI
ok i have been through all of this it took about 3-4 years and a lawyer to win my sons case….he gets the monthly check……but there is a back amount owed to us($25,000) but they will not let me touch it…they says it has to be used on medical(which he has medicaid) and school nothing else??? they had deposited 1,900 in a account i had to open…i spent the money on buying my son clothing a bed, paying bills(that do benefit him) and they tell me i misused this money and i have to repay it(i have no money to repay that)!! right now i have no car to get my son to doctor appointments….and i cant use the money to even purcahse a cheap car that will get us going where we need to be!! i guess i'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or knows who i can call to get info on this matter!!!
I won my case on February 26, 2009. I have not herd anything snice . Not one single word of what is going on. My helth is deteriating. I have RDS also called CRPS. , Fibromyalgia, and just recently a Huge inflamed disc in my gluteus maximus. I have 2 childern to support, that live with me 24/7.And my stress is through the roof, heart burn that fells like battery acid on a good day, hair falling out in lumps and klups speratically(not the kind of look a single mom really goes for) and to top everything off panic attack just last week (ya thats one I so could of left unchecked). Many, many, more, but I'm sure you get the point. All I'm asking for is a letter to just let me know what's going on. A couple of minutes in a letter, three tops. A little communication goes a long way. Its all I'm sayin'. My health would thank them for it.
Have you called SSA to see what the hold up is?
i live in baltimore maryland i just recieve an fully favorable by the ajl judge what is the next process
yes i'am getting ssa disability,will I get medicaid or medicare.got a letter saying fully favorable, will it be 30 days or 60 days before I hear something?
yes i'am getting ssa disability,will I get medicaid or medicare.got a letter saying fully favorable, will it be 30 days or 60 days before I hear something?
I had a hearing for my ssi and ssdi in June, I was told my case is being edited what does this mean? Also the medical expert that was there to testify, says in his opinion he doesn't see me working at any level, is this a postive for me?
A case in editing already has the decision written (which is sometimes done out of the ODAR office with a decision writer), and is now being edited. Once that step is done, the judge has to sign the decision and it goes out the door.
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Yesterday, out of the blue, I received a call from SS to make a appointment for a phone call with me in two weeks. I asked what the appointment was for, and the lady stated to talk about your appoval for your benefits. I was shocked.
17 months ago, I applied for Social Security. I was denied. My disability is Cancer. I have been though hell and back in the last year, chemo…radition, 4 surgeries, and still undergoing treatment. After the denial, I hired a lawyer, and she was able to get me a appeals hearing within 8 months.
The hearing was about 3 weeks ago, and I thought it didnt go to well. WHY? I been drawing unemployment for the last year because I was eligible. The Judge stated to draw unemployment you have to be looking for work. I said yes, I was aware of that. He then asked “Did you look for work?” I said no. I explained that during the last year, with the chemo, radiation, surgeries, endless doctors appts, that I was just trying to survive. Plain and simple. The judge said Ive heard enough, and the hearing ended. So to my complete surprise…I was appoved. So now the important question. Will I have to pay back all the unemployment out of my back pay? The lawyer told me that the federal government usually doesnt police the state, but she was unsure. What do you think?
Congratulations on the win.
A lot depends on the Judge. I have seen some judges take personal offense that an individual was receiving Social Security at the same time as unemployment insurance. However, Social Security has acknowledged that the standards for SSA disability and unemployment are different and not necessarily mutually inconsistent. Consider: http://www.socialsecurityinsider.com/2009/03/how-do-unemployment-benefits-affect-a-social-security-disability-claim/
Thanks Tom for your answer. But…it didn’t answer my question, lol. The ALJ came down pretty hard on me about the unemployment, and it seemed as if he wasn’t even concerned about my disability. My lawyer…spoke for about 2 minutes, and was cut off by the ALJ. He then began to grill me, the hearing lasted 20 minutes total.
I’ve looked at alot of sites about the unemployment/Social Security, but my question seems to be up in the air. My lawyer knew that I was receiving the unemployment and never, not once…even seemed to consider it would arise as a problem. Also, when I first applied for SS, the lady at the SS office told me I could receive SS and unemployment at the same time. I told the ALJ this too.
Sp back to you TOM, have you ever heard, in any case law, that the SS withheld “back pay” to reimburse the state for unemployment? Thanks for your prompt response!!
Hi Sable,
That’s the only answer I can give you. *I* personally am not aware of any such regulation. But that is not determinative. Whether you may need to repay the state for unemployment is, strictly speaking, outside of my practice are (helping people get their Social Security disability benefits).
Since you have an attorney on your case, make them work for their commission and ask them!