What is the Date of Entitlement to Disability?
The Date of Entitlement to Disability is an important part of the application process since it will determine when you begin to receive your benefits, if you are approved. The Date of Entitlement to Disability is the date the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines you’re eligible to begin receiving disability benefits.
Your Date of Entitlement will differ based on the type of claim you make, specifically whether you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). With SSDI, your date of entitlement will more often than not be five months after the date you declared your intent to file for disability, if that intent was not made within 12 months of the onset of your disability. While, in the case of SSI, your Date of Entitlement will be the day you make your intent to file known. If you qualify for benefits, your benefits will start on your Date of Entitlement.
The reason for the difference in time between the two programs is because SSI is considered a needs-based program. In order to receive SSI, you must be found unable to secure basic necessities (such as food and shelter), and therefore they do not require a five-month waiting period. Wherein, In the case of SSDI, you are expected to be unable to work for at least a year or until your death to qualify for benefits. The five-month waiting period is there to ensure you meet Social Security’s stringent definition of disability. However, because SSDI is an insurance program and entitlement is contingent upon contributing through payroll taxes, SSDI benefits can be paid for qualifying months prior to the application date. SSI benefits are not payable for any months before an application for benefits is made. The two programs do overlap however, and the application for SSI benefits can be made at the same time as an application for SSDI benefits.
You can find out more about SSI Requirements here.
