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Alabama Disability Attorneys: How far back will my Social Security Disability Benefits go?

Alabama Disability Attorneys: How far back will my Social Security Disability Benefits go?

The answer to this question hinges on whether you were awarded SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefit. If you were awarded SSI benefits, your right to benefits may go back no further than the date you applied for SSI benefits. Remember, SSI is a “needs based” social safety net, and regardless of how long you have actually been disabled, you cannot collect benefits back longer from the time you actually requested them.

SSDI benefits are based partially on paying your Social Security taxes, and part of the reason these taxes were paid is in case you later become disabled and need them; however, you may not wait for years and then apply for SSDI benefits and expect the government to pay your years and years of back pay. Your right to SSDI benefits can only go back up to one year before the date you applied for disability, so even if you have been legally disabled for 5 years and you were able to prove this fact, your right to collect back pay will only go back one year from your protective filing date. Having stated this, the years of back pay you might be entitled to can be substantial. Recently we helped a client win their disability claim after 7 years of fighting in the courts. Our client will receive all 7 years of back due benefits as the United States District Court determined that they had in fact been disabled the entire pendency of their claim.
This is one important reason why you should not procrastinate applying for SSDI or SSI benefits if you believe you are entitled to them.

If  you live in Alabama and you believe that you are disabled and entitled to received Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, don’t hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Disability Attorneys at Powell and Denny today.

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Offices in Hoover, AL and Huntsville, AL

Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 5 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 3 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry.

Alabama Disability Attorneys

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  • Birmingham Office
    1320 Alford Avenue
    Suite 201
    Birmingham, Alabama 35226
    Phone: 205-978-2051
    Fax: 205-978-2054
  • Huntsville Office
    600 Boulevard South
    SW Suite 104
    Huntsville, Alabama 35802
    Phone: 256-705-3510
    Fax: 256-705-3513

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