Retroactive Benefits

Retroactive benefits, commonly referred to as backpay, cover disability payments for months that you were deemed eligible but were not receiving them. This typically starts from your established disability onset date. Since SSDI is a long-term disability program, there is a mandatory 5 (five) month waiting period to ensure individuals have a long-term disability. That date starts from your onset date and must accumulate a total of five full months.
For example, if Social Security deems a disability began on June 15, 2025 with an application date of July 1, 2024 then benefits will start paying beginning December 2024. This is considered the sixth month of fully disability. The only exception for this waiting period are individuals diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Retroactive benefits will pay individuals back a maximum of 12 (twelve) months in back pay, regardless of when an individual was disabled and stopped working. Benefits, both retroactive and ongoing, are determined by your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and applying a specific formula to calculate your Primate Insurance Amount (PIA).

Back pay arrives in one of two ways:

• Lump Sum Payment: The full amount comes in one payment.
• Installments: If SSDI is combined with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), back pay might be split into smaller payments over time to avoid overpayments or financial strain.

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At Advocator Advantage, a Brown & Brown Company, we are committed to helping individuals navigate the complexities of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, and the Ticket to Work program.

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At Advocator Advantage, we understand that navigating SSDI, Medicare, and the Ticket to Work program can be complex and overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to address any questions or concerns you may have along your journey.