1) Delay filing for benefits
It is very important that you apply for benefits as soon as your medical condition worsens to the point where you can no longer work. For SSI benefits, if you are found disabled, your benefits can only go back to the date of your application. For example, if you became disabled and quit working in January 2009, but did not file an SSI application until July 2009, your disability benefits can start no earlier than July 2009. If you had filed an application immediately upon becoming disabled, you would have received an addition 6 months of back pay which could be a large amount of money.
For Social Security disability, your back pay, can go back 1 year from the date of the application. As a result you have more time to submit an SSD application before it starts having an impact on your benefits. However people still often make the mistake of waiting to file for SSD benefits for a year or two after they become disabled. Please do not make this mistake because it can significantly reduce the amount of your back pay.
2) Assume that you will quickly get on SSI/Social Security disability benefits
For many people the process of getting approved for SSI/Social Security disability benefits is a long process. It is not uncommon for it to take a year and a half to two years to get on disability benefits. As you start the process know that it will likely require a lot of patience and take a long time to get resolved.
Tags: claims processing, disability, new mexico, Social Security
