A question any Social Security disability attorney or advocate is familiar with from clients is wondering exactly where are my past-due benefits after being found disabled?
Unfortunately, as is the case with many matters involving Social Security disability, there are no easy answers.
Ignoring the fact that medically qualifying for Social Security disability is a difficult task on its own, actually collecting benefits after receiving a favorable decision is not so easy either.
All too often we receive calls from clients who are waiting to receive their benefits, many times months and months after a favorable decision is received. After Social Security finds someone medically disabled the next step is to issue the Award Letter. This Award Letter explains the beneficiary’s monthly payments as well as detailing how much the person will receive in past-due benefits. Many times someone applying for Social Security disability benefits is found disabled sometimes years prior to the actual decision being issued, and past-due benefits are due. Depending on the date a person was found disabled and when the initial application for disability benefits was filed, past-due benefits may consist of tens of thousands of dollars.
On occasion Social Security can drag its feet in issuing past-due benefits, which is troubling because those who are waiting for the money are in dire straits financially because they have been unable to work and earn income for quite some time. Check out this recent story about a man who faced this exact problem here. The problem with a delay in past-due benefits is that beneficiaries are trying to save their homes, pay for medications and feed their families. Everyday that goes by increases the struggle to survive financially.
Sometimes Social Security needs a little push in the right direction. Those who have received favorable decisions and issued award letters are encouraged to take their Award Letter down to their local Social Security office to inquire where their past-due benefits are. It is probably a good practice to wait about 30 days after the issuance of the Award Letter before going down to your local Social Security office.
