Calculating the Period of Past Due Benefits

SSD

Past due benefits date back to the date the claimant was found to be disabled (onset date), but no earlier than 12 months before the date of application. A five month waiting period applies to SSD benefits.

SSI

Past due benefits date back to the date the claimant was found to be disabled, but no earlier than the date of application. Unless the SSI application was filed on the first day of the month, the first benefit month will be the month after the month the application was filed.