People who have a disabling injury and the loved ones who care for them know that every day can come with new challenges between the painful symptoms, visits to the doctor and struggle to complete everyday tasks. Every one of these obstacles can be a source of stress and frustration.
The last thing people in this situation need to deal with is a delay in getting the help they need. Unfortunately, this is something that many people find themselves faced with when they are trying to collect disability benefits. While it is true that it can take some time and work and access money through Social Security disability, knowing what to expect can help ease some of the anxiety that many people feel as they go through this process.
In a previous post, which can be read here, we discussed the different ways people can try to avoid delays with their SSDI applications. However, some of the delays are unavoidable due to the size and slow pace of the Social Security Administration. This makes it very difficult to get anything done quickly.
What this means is applicants should not expect that anything will happen overnight in regards to an application. Once an application is reviewed, it will either be approved or denied. If denied, you can go through the process of appealing that decision. If approved, you can start collecting benefits, but typically not right away.
There is a five-month waiting period that starts the day your disability began, which means that you will receive your first payment for benefits in the six month following the injury.
It can be important to be aware of factors like waiting periods and appeals because it can help you prepare yourself — and potentially your finances — for what could be a lengthy process. Too many people get frustrated and give up right away because they expected to just start receiving checks immediately, but that is not how the system works. In order to have a clearer understanding of what you can expect from the SSA and SSDI payments, you may want to discuss your specific case and concerns with an attorney.
