What Does A Social Security Disability Award Letter Look Like?
I get asked this question a lot, but unfortunately, I can’t share an actual award letter due to privacy concerns—it would need so much redacting that it wouldn’t be helpful. I even tried finding a template online but had no luck.
To fill this gap, I created a sample disability award letter to explain what it looks like and what each section means. Please note that my example doesn’t include SSA contact information or their logo, as it’s purely for demonstration purposes. I also provide brief explanations for each section using sample numbers to help illustrate how everything works.
Keep reading to learn more!
Click here if you would like to review the entire document.
Along with your Social Security Disability Notice of Award (NOA), you will also receive the following publications. Please click the links below to learn more about each one:
Before we get into the details, here are a few things to keep in mind:
If you had a hearing, you will first receive the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) decision by mail before your Notice of Award arrives. This decision will also be sent to your local SSA Field Office (FO), where they will calculate your benefits based on the ALJ’s ruling. You might even get a call from the FO to confirm details for the calculation, so be sure to answer calls from unknown numbers—it could be the SSA.
Also, remember that you provided your banking information when you applied for disability benefits. Double-check that your information is correct to avoid any delays with your payments. You can update your banking details by logging into your Social Security account (I’ll include a link to set up your SSA account at the end of this post).
Typically, you’ll receive your direct deposit before the Notice of Award arrives in the mail, since electronic payments are faster. So keep an eye on both your bank account and mailbox for good news!
Now that you know what to expect with your award notice, let’s dive into the details and what it all means for you.
Notice of Award Date
The Notice of Award date is listed below SSA’s contact information. This date is important because you have sixty days (plus five extra days for mailing) to appeal any part of the Notice of Award that you disagree with.
If you submit an appeal after the sixty-five-day window, you’ll need to show good cause for the late filing. Good cause could include being hospitalized and unable to respond within the timeframe, or that SSA sent the notice to the wrong address, and you can prove you didn’t live there when it was mailed.
Date of Entitlement (DOE)
The first sentence of the award notice includes your Date of Entitlement (DOE). This is the date SSA determined that you became eligible for your first disability payment.
Let’s take a step back here. Up until now, your application focused on your Alleged Onset Date (AOD), which is the date you claimed that your disability began. SSA may determine that your disability began after the date that you alleged, adjusting it based on evidence in your records like MRI results, PET scans, blood work, or when your earnings dropped below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If SSA changed your AOD, they should have explained how the reason for the change.
I briefly mentioned the five-month waiting period on the example Notice of Award, but let’s dive a little deeper.
If you were awarded SSI (Title XVI): There is NOT a five-month waiting period for financial benefits. You are eligible for financial benefits as soon as you are approved.
If you were awarded SSDI (Title II): There is a mandatory five-month waiting period from your AOD before you’re eligible for financial benefits. This means your DOE will be five months after your AOD.
Now that we’ve covered the terms DOE and AOD, we can move on to how SSA calculates and pays your benefits.
Payment Dates
Some of you will have to wait five months, but everyone will have to wait at least one month. SSA has a habit of making people wait!
SSA pays disability benefits in arrears, meaning you receive payment for a given month the following month. For example, if you were eligible for a payment in August, you’ll receive that payment in September.
Having been in the disability industry for twenty years, I still count the months on my fingers and toes to triple-check myself! So, to make this clear, I’ll walk you through some examples.
SSI Payments
Example One
If you applied for SSI on 02/22/2022 and SSA determined you met the criteria based on an MRI dated 01/01/2023, your DOE would be 01/01/2023. Your January benefit would be paid in February. As of August 2023, you’d be eligible for seven months of backpay. To calculate your backpay, simply multiply your monthly benefit by seven months.
Example Two
If you applied for SSI on 02/01/2022 and SSA determined you met the criteria on the date that you applied, your AOD and DOE would be 02/01/2022. Your February benefit would be paid in March. As of August 2023, you’d be eligible for seventeen months of past-due benefits. To calculate your backpay, simply multiply your monthly benefit by seventeen months.
SSI Backpay Rules
The SSA disburses SSI retroactive (backpay) benefits in smaller payments to ensure that recipients do not lose eligibility for SSI due to exceeding resource limits. SSI is a needs-based program, which means that recipients must meet strict financial criteria to qualify, including limits on income and assets. If the SSA were to pay a large lump sum all at once, the amount could cause the recipient's resources to temporarily exceed these limits, potentially making them ineligible for SSI benefits.
To avoid this, SSA typically distributes retroactive SSI benefits in installments. The initial payment is usually smaller, with subsequent payments spaced out over time, usually six months apart, until the full retroactive amount is paid. This installment approach helps ensure that recipients maintain eligibility for SSI benefits while receiving their back payments. However, in cases where the recipient has urgent financial needs (such as debts related to housing or medical expenses), they may request a larger portion of the retroactive benefits earlier.
SSDI Payments
Example One
If you claimed you became disabled on 02/01/2022 and SSA determined you met the criteria based on an MRI dated 01/01/2023, your AOD would be 01/01/2023 and your DOE would be 06/01/2023. Your June benefit would be paid in July. As of August 2023, you would be eligible for one month of backpay. You would likely receive your backpay and August payment around the same time.
Example Two
If you claimed you became disabled on 02/01/2022 and SSA determined you met the criteria for disability on the the date that you alleged, your AOD would be 02/01/2022 and your DOE would be 07/01/2022. Your July benefit would be paid in August. As of August 2023, you’d be eligible for twelve months of past-due benefits. To calculate your retroactive (backpay) benefit, simply multiply your monthly benefit amount by eleven months.
SSDI does not have income or asset limits, so you would receive retroactive benefit in one lump-sum.
Benefit Payment Dates Are Based On Your Day Of Birth
One final point before we move on. The day you receive your monthly Social Security benefit is tied to the day that you were born. Here's how the payment schedule generally works:
If you were born on the 1st through 10th of the month: You will be paid on the second Wednesday of the month.
If you were born on the 11th through 20th of the month: You will be paid on the third Wednesday of the month.
If you were born after the 20th of the month: You will be paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Source: SSA Blog
Auxiliary Benefits
Auxiliary benefits are additional payments made for dependent children of an SSDI recipient. If you were not awarded SSDI or do not have dependent children, you can skip to the next section.
If you have children (biological or adopted), you may be eligible to receive auxiliary benefits for them as well as for your spouse who cares for them. There are specific requirements:
Your spouse (or ex-spouse if you were married for over ten years) can qualify for auxiliary benefits if they are caring for your child who is 16 years old or younger. The spouse or ex-spouse must be at least 62 to qualify.
Your children can qualify if they are unmarried, high school age or younger, and enrolled in school full-time.
The maximum family benefit will be calculated by your local SSA field office. The total amount for your family typically ranges from 150% to 180% of your disability benefit.
Auxiliary benefits are not automatic benefits, so you’ll need to contact the SSA to apply.
Medicare
One of the added benefits of receiving SSDI is Medicare coverage. Determining when you’ll become eligible is straightforward.
For those awarded SSDI, Medicare starts 24 months after your date of entitlement (DOE). Because of the mandatory five-month waiting period, this means your Medicare will start 29 months after your alleged onset date (AOD).
Recommendation: Work with a Medicare Expert when enrolling. Many recipients overpay for coverage, often due to confusion or fear of making mistakes. Seek trusted referrals, explore reputable communities, or research online to find a knowledgeable expert who can help you avoid unnecessary costs and ensure you get the right coverage for your needs.
Keep in mind that there are penalties for not enrolling in Medicare on time, so be sure to speak with an expert to understand these deadlines.
Medicaid
If you were awarded SSI benefits, you are automatically approved for Medicaid in most states. To verify your eligibility, contact your local Department of Children and Family Services. Most states offer online applications, and you should receive a response within 30-45 days.
Your Appeal Rights
If you disagree with any part of your Notice of Award or approval notice, you have the right to appeal the decision.
You can submit an appeal along with any evidence you believe supports your case for an adjustment. However, I urge caution based on my years of experience:
When you appeal one aspect, you are effectively appealing the entire decision. The SSA won’t limit their review to just the issues you pointed out; they will reevaluate your entire claim. This review will be conducted by a new reviewer, who may have a different interpretation of your situation and how it aligns with the law. I’ve witnessed approvals quickly turn into denials, and it can happen unexpectedly.
Consider this carefully: How much money are we discussing? If it amounts to only 1-8 months of benefits, it might not be worth the stress. Do you really want to endure that process again? You have too much at stake to gamble on an appeal for a few months.
Conclusion
I apologize for the length of this post. I wanted to address the most common questions regarding award notices comprehensively. I hope you found this information helpful.
Congratulations on your disability application approval! Achieving this is no small feat, and I'm truly happy for you! If you are seriously considering an appeal, please consult a Disability Expert first. A fresh perspective can be invaluable. If they agree with your reasoning, you can confidently move forward. If they advise against it, that’s your signal to let it go.
If you'd like me to review your decision and share my thoughts, feel free to schedule a free consultation so we can discuss your options.
Resources
If you still have questions about your award notice or your decision, schedule a FREE consultation with us. *Please note that if you are working with a Social Security Disability Representative, please contact your rep directly because I am unable to speak to a colleague’s client. It would be unethical.
If you have questions about workers comp, long-term-disability and/or state disability income offsets, please click here to read my blog post about disability benefits. Read through the pros and cons for the type of disability payments that you receive to determine if your Social Security Disability benefits will be reduced due to additional sources of income.
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