Any Tampa Social Security disability attorney will tell you that getting approved for benefits is not easy. It can take months—sometimes even years—to get approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. So if you are finally approved, you may be eager to find out when you will receive your benefits.
When will you receive your first SSDI benefits check? When will you receive subsequent checks? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions.
How Will You Receive SSDI Benefits?
A law went into effect in 2013 that requires anyone who is approved for SSDI benefits to receive their payments electronically. This means the Social Security Administration (SSA) will automatically deposit your benefits into your account every month. You will not receive a paper check in the mail.
If you do not want benefits directly deposited into a bank account, you have the option of signing up for a Direct Express debit card instead. If you choose this option, the SSA will deposit your monthly benefits directly into this debit card account. You can then use the debit card to use the funds.
However, the Department of Treasury will grant exceptions to the electronic payment rule under rare circumstances. If you need to obtain a paper check, you will need to contact the Department of Treasury to find out if you qualify for an exception.
When Will Your First SSDI Check Be Deposited?
If you have recently been approved for SSDI benefits, you may wonder when your first check will be deposited into your bank account. The answer to this question will vary depending on a number of factors, including your disability onset date.
The SSA has established a mandatory five month waiting period for SSDI benefits. The five month waiting period begins on your disability onset date, which is the date when you first became disabled. You cannot receive SSDI benefits until the five month waiting period is over.
In most cases, the SSDI approval process takes so long that the five month waiting period is over by the time the applicant is approved for benefits. As a result, benefits can begin immediately after approval.
For example, say you were disabled in an accident on January 1st and approved for benefits on November 1st of the same year. Your disability onset date is January 1st, which means the five month waiting period would be over starting in June. If you aren’t approved until November, the five month waiting period will not delay your benefits, so you should receive your first check shortly after approval.
But if your application is approved fairly quickly, you may not start to receive your benefits right away due to this five month waiting period.
For example, say you were disabled in an accident on May 1st and approved for benefits on June 1st. In this case, your disability onset date would be May 1st, which means you would not be eligible for benefits until October, which is five months after your disability onset date. Since you are not eligible until October, you will not receive benefits right away if you are approved on June 1st since this is still during the five month waiting period. When will your first check be deposited? SSDI benefits are paid in arrears, so you will not be paid for the month of October until November. This means in this case, you will not receive your first SSDI deposit until November.
When Are Monthly SSDI Benefit Checks Deposited?
The date that your SSDI check is deposited every month will depend on three factors: whether or not you receive other benefits, when you were first approved for benefits, and your birthday.
Some people receive both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. If you receive both types of benefits, you will receive your monthly check on the third day of the month. But if the third day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, you will receive your payment for that month the day before. So if the third of a month falls on a Saturday, your payment for that month will be deposited on Friday the 2nd instead.
If you were initially approved for SSDI benefits prior to 1997, you will also receive your SSDI checks on the third day of every month. The same rule regarding weekends and holidays applies to payments for these recipients.
If you were initially approved for SSDI benefits after 1997, the date you will receive your monthly SSDI check will vary depending on your birthday.
If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th, you will receive your SSDI check on the second Wednesday of every month. If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th of a month, you will receive your SSDI check on the third Wednesday of every month. Finally, if your birthday is between the 21st and 31st of a month, you will receive your SSDI check on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
For example, if your birthday is February 7th, you will receive your SSDI check on the second Wednesday of every month. But if your birthday is March 17th, you will receive your SSDI check on the third Wednesday of every month instead.
Discuss Your Case With A Social Security Disability Attorney
If you are unable to work due to a disabling condition, contact the experienced Social Security disability attorneys at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett to discuss your case as soon as possible. Since 1971, our team of attorneys has helped countless clients apply and fight for the SSDI benefits they are entitled to by law. We will guide you through the entire process and work tirelessly to ensure you are awarded the benefits you deserve.
To schedule a free consultation regarding your case, contact the team at our law office today.
