What onset date should you use for your Social Security disability claim? Choosing the earliest possible onset date can benefit you in many ways – you may qualify for additional months of past due benefits – which can put hundreds or thousands of dollars in your pocket.
The earlier your onset date, the earlier you qualify for Medicare. When you are awarded SSDI, you become eligible for Medicare two years after the date you first become eligible for disability payment. So choosing an earlier onset date can qualify you for Medicare that much earlier.
In some cases, an early onset date can qualify you for SSDI when at first glance you only qualified for SSI. Remember that to qualify for SSDI, your disability must begin – your onset date – before your date last insured for SSDI. So an earlier onset date may put you back into SSDI status. Continue reading →