As soon as you realize your physical, mental, or emotional disability, you must determine whether or not the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes it. From here, you must not shy away from applying for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits program and requesting the financial aid to which you are entitled. This government benefits program is in place for a reason, and you must take advantage of it given the opportunity. With all that being said, please continue reading to learn how soon you should report your disability to the SSA and how an experienced New Jersey SSDI attorney at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you expedite this application process.
How soon should I report my eligible disability to the SSA?
As a general rule of thumb, the SSA recommends that eligible candidates for the SSDI benefits program submit their applications as soon as they incur a disability. This is generally because candidates must endure a five-month waiting period before they can receive their first monthly payment. Thus, their benefits payments may not begin until they have had their disability for at least six months. As you may conclude yourself, this may be a long time to go without financial backing, especially if you have lost employment or otherwise substantial gainful activity ever since your disability.
What happens if I report my disability too early or too late?
While you should file your SSDI benefits application as soon as possible, you should not do so prematurely. That is, it may be better to wait until you receive an official diagnosis of your disability from a recognized medical professional. This is because the mandatory five-month waiting period typically starts its countdown from the date you receive your medical diagnosis. So, while applying too early may not cause immediate problems, you may just have to wait a little longer before the five-month waiting period begins.
On the other hand, you may make matters worse for yourself if you file too late. For one, this may result in an underpayment in the benefits you require. This is because you may only be eligible for back payments up to 12 months before your application date, excluding the five-month waiting period. Meaning, if you have been out of work due to a disability for approximately 18 months, you may still only receive a maximum back payment of 12 months, with no exception.
What’s more, a delay in your SSDI benefits application may lead the SSA to believe that your disability is not affecting you as much as you have led on. This may have them take a closer look at your claim and potentially deny it in the end. And while there is no specific deadline to submit your initial application, you may only have 60 days to submit your appeal after a denial, from the date you receive notice from the SSA on their initial decision.
To conclude, if you require additional consulting, look no further than a skilled New Jersey SSDI attorney from The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur. Schedule your initial consultation with us today.
