How Long Does it Take to Get Disability Benefits in Pennsylvania?

If an illness, injury, or disability prevents you from working in Pennsylvania, you may be able to get disability benefits. To get benefits as soon as possible, applicants can turn to our experienced attorneys for help.

Before you can get disability benefits in Pennsylvania, you need to apply for them. This process might take weeks or months, depending on the information you need to gather. Once you apply, it may take five months before you hear back from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once approved, it will likely be about five months before you start getting benefits. Because disability benefits are for the long-term, recipients can often get them for life as long as they remain eligible. To get benefits sooner, ask our experienced disability lawyers for help with your application.

We’re here to help Pennsylvanians get the disability benefits they deserve. For a free case evaluation with the Pennsylvania disability lawyers at Young, Marr, Mallis & Deane, call today at (215) 515-2954.

How Long Does it Take to Apply for Disability Benefits in Pennsylvania?

Applying for disability benefits can be a long, complicated process. The Social Security Administration often requires detailed documents and information from applicants, which can be difficult to prepare. To speed up the process and ensure your initial application is complete, ask our Pennsylvania disability lawyers for help.

An application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is detailed. The SSA wants to know certain information about your disability and finances before approving an application. For example, you may need to provide medical records that outline your condition and financial information, like previous tax returns. After you submit an application, the SSA might request additional documents.

Compiling the required information for an SSDI disability application can be challenging. Not everyone has the time or ability to gather the necessary records, like birth certificates and proof of previous employment, or reach out to doctors to access medical records. Our attorneys can help you prepare your SSDI application so that you can more easily get disability benefits in Pennsylvania.

How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for Disability Benefits in Pennsylvania?

After you apply for disability benefits in Pennsylvania, the Social Security Administration will review your claim. This process can take several months, so it’s important for applicants to be prepared for a potential delay.

On average, the SSA takes three to five months to review a claim for disability benefits in Pennsylvania. During the review process, the SSA may request an interview to clarify certain matters. Our Philadelphia disability lawyers can help you prepare for any question from an SSA representative during this stage.

Unfortunately, not all disability benefit applications are initially approved. Contact our attorneys if your claim was denied after several months of review. You may be able to file an appeal with the SSA. This process alone might take upwards of a year, so it’s important to have one of our experienced lawyers by your side during the appeals process for SSDI benefits in Pennsylvania.

How Long Until I Start Getting Disability Benefits in Pennsylvania?

If your application for disability benefits is approved, you might think you’ll start receiving payments right away. That’s not usually the case. Generally, the Social Security Administration imposes a waiting period after claims are approval to ensure applicants remain eligible for disability benefits in Pennsylvania.

Once the SSA approves your application for SSDI benefits, you will most likely enter into a waiting period. Only certain injuries, illnesses, and disabilities qualify applicants for immediate benefits in Pennsylvania. To learn whether or not you qualify, speak to our Pennsylvania disability lawyers.

In most cases, there is a five-month waiting period after claim approval in Pennsylvania. You won’t receive any disability benefit payments from the SSA during this time. Once the five months are up, you’ll have to wait another month before you receive a check. That’s the way SSDI payments are structured. This can be confusing for SSDI recipients, so ask our attorneys for clarification.

Disability benefits are sent out every month, whether by check or direct deposit. The exact day of the month you will receive your check will depend on your birthday.

For How Long Can I Get Pennsylvania Disability Benefits?

Once you are approved for SSDI benefits in Pennsylvania, you may be able to get monthly payments for the rest of your life. If you continue to remain eligible for disability benefits, you can continue to get them in Pennsylvania.

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are meant to support those who have worked for many years but no longer can because of a qualifying injury, disability, or illness. These benefits are for the long-term, often for life. However, certain things might affect your ability to get disability benefits forever.

The SSA imposes income limits for SSDI recipients in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. In 2023, the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit is $2,460 per month for blind recipients and $1,470 per month for non-blind recipients. You may enter into a trial work period if you earn over $1,050 a month in 2023. If this period extends over nine months, you may lose your access to benefits, despite earning under the monthly SGA limit. To better understand how income limits might impact you, speak to our Quakertown disability lawyers.

An improved condition can also impact your eligibility for disability benefits in Pennsylvania. The SSA conducts periodic reviews of recipients’ medical conditions, the frequency of which depends on each recipient’s prognosis. Disability benefit recipients must also report any condition changes to the SSA.

Ask Our Pennsylvania Lawyers About Disability Benefits Today

If you need to get disability benefits in Pennsylvania, our attorneys can help. For a free case evaluation with the Upper Darby disability lawyers at Young, Marr, Mallis & Deane, call today at (215) 515-2954.