GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY "BACK PAY"

"Back pay" accumulates while you wait on Social Security to approve your claim.  Here's what's important:

1.  You must prove that you are disabled according to Social Security's rules.  They have their own rules about disability, and it's these rules that you must use to prove your case.

2.  Back pay depends on your "onset date," that is, the date your disability commenced.  In most cases, benefits can be paid back to your onset date.  Incidentally, the onset date can be earlier than the application date. The earlier the onset date, the more back pay you can receive.

Social Security may argue that you are not disabled.  They may also argue that you did not become disabled when you claim you did.  It is necessary to use medical evidence to prove both all aspects of your case, including your eligibility for back payments.

Let me use an example. If you allege that you first became disabled on March 1, 2013 (your "alleged onset date"), you must have objective medical evidence to show a severe disabling impairment that was present on or before that date.  Objective medical evidence includes laboratory tests, X-rays, MRIs, CT Scans, or other procedures.  This is what Social Security will look for when establishing your onset date.  It is useless to go into a hearing and argue an earlier onset date without this objective medical evidence. 

A careful review of your medical records will help determine your disability onset date and that, in turn, will help you get maximum back payments.

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