Can You Get SSI or SSDI Back Pay? How It Works and What to Expect
- Purple
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Understanding Retroactive Payments After You’re Approved for Disability
Introduction: Will Social Security Pay Me for the Time I Was Waiting?
If you’ve been waiting months—or even years—for your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim to be approved, you're probably wondering:
🕒 Do I get paid for all the time I was waiting?
🕒 How far back will Social Security pay me?
🕒 When will I receive my back pay?
The good news is:
✔ Yes, most people approved for SSI or SSDI receive back pay.
✔ How much you get and how far back it goes depends on your case.
✔ It’s often paid as a lump sum—but not always.
In this post, we’ll cover:
✅ What back pay is and who qualifies
✅ The difference between SSI and SSDI back pay
✅ How far back payments can go
✅ When and how you’ll receive the money
✅ How back pay affects taxes and other benefits
✅ How Purple helps track benefits and lump sum payments
1. What Is Back Pay for SSDI and SSI?
Back pay is the money Social Security owes you for the months (or years) you were eligible for benefits but hadn’t been approved yet.
📌 If your application is eventually approved, SSA pays you for that time as a lump sum or in installments.
2. Who Gets Back Pay?
✅ SSDI recipients usually get back pay from the date they were found disabled (plus up to 12 months of retroactive pay).
✅ SSI recipients get back pay from the date they applied, not the date they became disabled.
✅ If your application takes months (or years) to process, back pay helps cover the time you went without support.
💡 If you were denied and won on appeal, you may get back pay going back to your original application date.
3. Back Pay for SSDI: How It Works
✅ You Can Get Retroactive Payments
SSDI can pay you retroactive benefits for up to 12 months before your application date, as long as you were medically eligible.
📌 SSDI has a 5-month waiting period after your disability onset date—SSA subtracts this from the back pay.
Example:
You became disabled in January 2023
You applied in June 2023
Your case is approved in March 2025
➡️ SSA may pay you from June 2023, minus the 5-month waiting period = 1 month of 2023, plus 2024, and part of 2025.
➡️ If SSA finds you were disabled before applying, you could get up to 12 months of retroactive pay before June 2023.
4. Back Pay for SSI: How It Works
SSI back pay is simpler, but more limited.
📌 You can receive SSI back pay from the date you applied, not before—even if your disability started earlier.
Important:
SSI does not offer retroactive benefits—only back pay from the application date forward.
Example:
You applied for SSI in May 2023
SSA approves your case in April 2025
➡️ You may receive back pay for every month between May 2023 and April 2025.
5. How Do You Receive Back Pay?
✅ SSDI Back Pay:
Usually paid in one lump sum, directly to your bank account or via check.
You’ll typically receive it within 60 days of your award notice.
⚠️ SSI Back Pay:
May be split into three installments, spaced six months apart.
This is due to SSI’s strict asset limits ($2,000 for individuals).
Each installment is typically no more than 3x the monthly SSI amount ($967 in 2025).
📌 SSA may waive installment payments and pay the full amount upfront if you have urgent needs (e.g. medical bills, housing costs).
6. Will My Back Pay Be Taxed or Affect Other Benefits?
✅ SSDI Back Pay and Taxes
SSDI back pay may be taxable if your total income is over:
$25,000/year (individuals)
$32,000/year (married couples)
SSA will send you a Form SSA-1099 at tax time.
📌 You may be able to spread back pay over multiple years on your taxes to reduce your liability.
⚠️ SSI Back Pay and Asset Limits
SSI recipients must spend down their back pay within 9 months to stay under the $2,000 resource limit.
If money stays in your account too long, SSA may suspend or reduce your benefits.
💡 You can use an ABLE account to save some or all of your SSI back pay without affecting eligibility. The 2025 ABLE contribution limit is $19,000, plus an additional $15,060 through ABLE to Work (in the continental U.S.).
7. How Purple Helps You Track Back Pay and Disability Benefits
💜 Track SSI & SSDI Payments – Know when your back pay hits your account.
💜 Monitor Asset Limits – Get alerts if you’re close to SSI’s $2,000 limit.
💜 Find ABLE Account Options – Save your lump sum safely without losing benefits.
💜 Stay Compliant – Avoid overpayments by managing your finances the right way.
8. FAQs About Back Pay for SSI and SSDI
How Long Does It Take to Get Back Pay After Approval?
✅ Usually within 60 days, but it can take longer depending on your case.
Can I Get Retroactive SSDI Pay from Before I Applied?
✅ Yes, up to 12 months prior to application, if you were eligible and disabled.
Will I Get a Lump Sum or Installments?
SSDI: Lump sum
SSI: 3 installments, unless SSA waives it
Can I Spend Back Pay on Anything?
✅ Yes, but SSI recipients should spend down carefully to avoid going over resource limits.
9. Conclusion: Yes, You Can Get Back Pay—Here’s What to Expect
✅ Most people approved for SSI or SSDI receive back pay.
✅ SSDI may include retroactive payments, while SSI does not.
✅ SSDI back pay is usually paid in a lump sum, SSI may be split into installments.
✅ Use an ABLE account to save SSI back pay safely.
✅ Use Purple to track your payments and stay within SSA rules.
💜 Sign Up for Purple to Track Your Disability Benefits and Back Pay!