The question of how soon you should apply for Social Security disability benefits after you are unable to work is complicated. I was reminded of this fact during a hearing this week. I represented a woman who is clearly disabled now. The problem for her is that she was last eligible for Social Security disability benefits three years ago.
One Year Of No Work
You have to be off of work for one continuous year to collect Social Security disability benefits. That does not mean, however, that you must wait the entire year before applying for Social Security disability benefits. It is sufficient if your medical conditions will keep you from working for one year.
Thus, applying for Social Security disability benefits requires you to be something of a fortune teller. You have to predict if you are still going to be unable to work in a year. For this reason, many people wait to see how their health changes before applying for Social Security disability benefits. There is wisdom in this. But, the case from this week shows the downside of waiting too long.
A Good Rule Of Thumb–Wait No More Than One Year
One good rule for deciding when to apply for Social Security disability benefits would be to never wait more than one year to apply. If you have been off of work for at least twelve months, it is time to apply. In fact, do it before a year elapses. This will ensure that you get benefits for all the time you are unable to work. It should, also, address any concerns about losing your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.
Patience is a virtue, so we are told. But waiting too long can be an expensive vice.
If you have questions about what to apply for Social Security disability benefits, let me know.
