Social Security disability benefits provide financial support for people who can’t work because of serious health conditions. There are two main types of these benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is for people with disabilities who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, while SSI can support any disabled person with limited income and few resources.
The program that pays you depends on your work history and financial situation. However, both programs have the same basic medical requirements. You must show that your condition keeps you from working and that it meets Social Security’s definition of disability to qualify. Either program can provide benefits on an ongoing basis or for a closed period, depending on your situation.
What Are Ongoing Disability Benefits?
Ongoing disability benefits support people who remain unable to work for a long time. Once you qualify, you can keep receiving payments as long as your condition continues to meet Social Security’s eligibility requirements. Social Security will review your case from time to time to assess whether your condition has improved and see if you still qualify. If you still can’t work, your benefits will continue. Many people who qualify for ongoing benefits keep getting support for a long time, often for several years.
What Is a Closed Period of Disability?
A closed period of disability applies when you can’t work for a while, but your condition later improves. If you apply for disability benefits and then recover before Social Security makes a decision on your case, you might qualify for closed period benefits instead of ongoing benefits. These benefits pay you retroactively for the period during which you were eligible.
You must show that your condition kept you from working for at least 12 full months to qualify for closed period benefits. You must also apply within 14 months of when you recovered. If you meet those requirements, Social Security may pay you for the time you couldn’t work. You won’t get ongoing monthly payments in the future, but you could still receive back pay.
Ongoing vs. Closed Period Eligibility Criteria
Both ongoing and closed period benefits require you to prove that you had a condition that kept you from working for at least 12 months. You must still meet that rule at the time Social Security decides your case to receive ongoing benefits. For closed period benefits, you must have recovered by the time of the decision, but still meet the 12-month rule. You must also file within 14 months of when your disability ended. Social Security will consider your medical records, work history, and other details to decide which type of benefit applies to you.
How the SSA Determines When Disability Ends
Social Security considers how long your condition prevents or has prevented you from working to determine when ongoing or closed period disability payments should end. If your condition gets better and you can work again, your benefits will stop. Social Security will also check if you can return to any type of work, not just your old job. They look at your medical records, test results, doctor’s notes, and daily activities to assess your working capacity. In some cases, they might decide that you have recovered even if your condition still affects you, as long as it no longer keeps you from working.
Payment Rules and Retroactivity Differences
Payment rules differ for closed period and ongoing benefits. If you qualify for ongoing benefits, you will receive monthly payments that continue for as long as you remain eligible. For closed period benefits, Social Security will only pay you for the time your disability prevented you from working. SSDI allows up to 12 months of back pay from before you filed your claim. SSI does not allow any back pay before the filing date. SSDI also includes a five-month waiting period before payments begin.
Contact a Disability Lawyer Now
If you have questions about whether you qualify for ongoing or closed period disability benefits, Crowe & Shanahan can help. Contact us today to learn more in an initial consultation.