I WON MY CASE! HOW LONG TO GET MY MONEY?
Congratulations! You have been approved for Social Security disability benefits. Your Notice of Decision just arrived and it's the best news you've had in a long, long time.
But there's no check in the envelope. How long will it take to get your money?
The short estimate (guesstimate) is about 90 days. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. There is no cut-and-dried time frame.
Here's what happens after your Notice of Decision or approval letter arrives at your house:
1. The decision maker who approved your claim sends the decision to a payment processing center, if you claim was for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI (also called Title 2). Processing centers are typically in Baltimore or Birmingham. The processing center will begin to check things, formulate payment amounts and get ready to send you a payment. Keep in mind payment centers get thousands of decisions each day, so processing is more waiting for your turn. Back pay usually comes first, though not always. If you had an attorney, expect hisor her fee to be deducted from your backpay.
2. If your claim included Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has household income and resource restrictions attached, your award goes to your local Social Security office before going to a payment processing center. The local office will need a telephone interview with you to determine your household income, financial resources, living arrangements, etc. Once this has been completed, the local Social Security office will notify the payment processing center that they can release your payments. When SSI is involved, it takes longer to get paid because it is a two-step process. This can easily add an additional month or two to the payment process.
QUESTIONS
1. How Much Will Be Deducted For My Attorney's Fee?
Usually, it will be 25 percent of your total back pay but never more than $6,000. For example: If your back pay totals $10,000, the attorney's fee would be $2,500. This fee must be approved by Social Security before it is paid.
2. Does Social Security Withhold Federal or State Income Tax?
No, Social Security withholds no taxes unless you tell them to. If you want taxes withheld, you should call the local Social Security office and they will provide a form to fill out and sign.
3. Will Social Security Send Me a Paper Check?
Social Security will require direct deposit to your bank account (which you must sign up for at Social Security), or you may use the Direct Express debit card offered by Social Security. Sign up for the card at your Social Security office, also.
4. What is a Representative Payee? Do I Need One?
A representative payee is someone appointed by Social Security to receive your benefits on your behalf and help you spend the money wisely. Most people do not require a payee. However, if Social Security believes that a beneficiary has limited judgment or ability to spend his/her own benefits they can require a payee. This might occur, for example, when a beneficiary has mental impairments, drug or alcohol impairments, or takes medications that may reduce functioning. Call your local Social Security office for more information.
5. My Children/Dependents Haven't Received Benefits Yet; What's the Problem?
Specific questions involving payments should be addressed to your local Social Security office. Generally, when an adult receives SSDI benefits, his or her qualified dependents may also receive a benefit. Dependents must be still in school and have not reached the age of 19. Dependents' benefits are usually processed seprately from the primary benefits and often are processed later than the primary benefits.
But there's no check in the envelope. How long will it take to get your money?
The short estimate (guesstimate) is about 90 days. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. There is no cut-and-dried time frame.
Here's what happens after your Notice of Decision or approval letter arrives at your house:
1. The decision maker who approved your claim sends the decision to a payment processing center, if you claim was for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI (also called Title 2). Processing centers are typically in Baltimore or Birmingham. The processing center will begin to check things, formulate payment amounts and get ready to send you a payment. Keep in mind payment centers get thousands of decisions each day, so processing is more waiting for your turn. Back pay usually comes first, though not always. If you had an attorney, expect hisor her fee to be deducted from your backpay.
2. If your claim included Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has household income and resource restrictions attached, your award goes to your local Social Security office before going to a payment processing center. The local office will need a telephone interview with you to determine your household income, financial resources, living arrangements, etc. Once this has been completed, the local Social Security office will notify the payment processing center that they can release your payments. When SSI is involved, it takes longer to get paid because it is a two-step process. This can easily add an additional month or two to the payment process.
QUESTIONS
1. How Much Will Be Deducted For My Attorney's Fee?
Usually, it will be 25 percent of your total back pay but never more than $6,000. For example: If your back pay totals $10,000, the attorney's fee would be $2,500. This fee must be approved by Social Security before it is paid.
2. Does Social Security Withhold Federal or State Income Tax?
No, Social Security withholds no taxes unless you tell them to. If you want taxes withheld, you should call the local Social Security office and they will provide a form to fill out and sign.
3. Will Social Security Send Me a Paper Check?
Social Security will require direct deposit to your bank account (which you must sign up for at Social Security), or you may use the Direct Express debit card offered by Social Security. Sign up for the card at your Social Security office, also.
4. What is a Representative Payee? Do I Need One?
A representative payee is someone appointed by Social Security to receive your benefits on your behalf and help you spend the money wisely. Most people do not require a payee. However, if Social Security believes that a beneficiary has limited judgment or ability to spend his/her own benefits they can require a payee. This might occur, for example, when a beneficiary has mental impairments, drug or alcohol impairments, or takes medications that may reduce functioning. Call your local Social Security office for more information.
5. My Children/Dependents Haven't Received Benefits Yet; What's the Problem?
Specific questions involving payments should be addressed to your local Social Security office. Generally, when an adult receives SSDI benefits, his or her qualified dependents may also receive a benefit. Dependents must be still in school and have not reached the age of 19. Dependents' benefits are usually processed seprately from the primary benefits and often are processed later than the primary benefits.
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