If the SSA approves your application for disability benefits, you’ll begin receiving SSDI after a five-month waiting period from the initial date of your claim. In most cases, it takes six months to a year to obtain approval for benefits.
If you don’t receive approval until after the five months pass, you may receive back pay for any months between the five-month waiting period and the date of your approval.
For instance, if you apply for SSDI on February 1, you won’t be eligible to receive benefits until July 1. However, if the SSA approves your claim on September 1, you’ll receive back pay for two months of benefits (July and August).