How to File for SSDI and SSI Benefits

Marilyn Donoff • July 12, 2025


Supplemental Security Income Application

Many people contact our office when they need to file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For the most part, they're intimidated—they probably haven't filed before, and they have no idea how to apply. Accordingly, for people who retain our attorneys, we file applications on their behalf.


But you might not want to hire an attorney, or might not even have the option. Many law firms don't accept clients until after they've received an initial denial. Under section 206(a) of the Social Security Act, Social Security disability attorneys are only paid from "past-due benefits," what most people call "back pay." If you're lucky enough to get a quick approval, then your attorney might make a very small amount or nothing at all. 


For people who want to file on their own, we wanted to share some information and tips. We want to emphasize that a lot of this is simplified. Last year, Rebecca and I taught a seminar primarily on how to file applications: there's a lot to talk about! But when people come to us later in the process, we see a few problems again and again (and again). We hope that this guide can help you avoid some common pitfalls.


Should You Apply for SSDI, SSI, or Both?

The Social Security Administration administers two major disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). And it also administers other less common disability programs—depending on whether you count certain programs as unique or as subsets of other programs, almost twenty more disability programs (such as auxiliary benefits, spousal benefits, child's insurance benefits... and so on). And, in an ideal world, you would check all of them to see if you're eligible.


For the most part, though, people are interested in applying for SSDI and SSI.


Easy tip: When in doubt, you should apply for both SSDI and SSI. It's not your job to deny yourself. If you're ineligible for a program and apply for it, the Social Security Administration will simply deny you.


I cannot emphasize how often we see people who lose hard-earned money when they don't apply for both programs. We even see people who started their claims with other attorneys who filed for SSDI or SSI, but not both, and then the person loses out on thousands of dollars in back pay. It's maddening. Among the people who consult with our office after applying on their own, we conservatively estimate that about 10–15% did not apply for benefits for which they probably would have been entitled. These people generally lose thousands of dollars.


Nonetheless, for informational purposes, you may want to know the non-medical eligibility requirements for SSDI and SSI.


Non-medical eligibility for SSDIis based on your work history and contributions to the Social Security system. To qualify, you must have earned sufficient "work credits," which are acquired by paying payroll taxes. Generally, you need 40 credits to qualify for SSDI, with 20 earned in the 10 years before becoming disabled, although younger workers may qualify with fewer. Unlike SSI, SSDI does not take your financial need or income into account. If you've never had a job—or if you've never paid taxes—you very likely won't qualify for SSDI.


Non-medical eligibility for SSI is based on financial need rather than work history. Among other requirements, individuals must have limited income and countable resources below certain thresholds—generally less than $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples in 2025. Not all income and resources count toward this limit. While SSI eligibility can feel a little complicated to some people, for the most part, you won't qualify for SSI if you have substantial savings.


Again, though, when in doubt: Apply for both programs.


Apply Soon

We also see people who wait too long to file for benefits. If you wait long enough, you won't receive back pay for months during which you were disabled and otherwise would have been eligible for benefits.


For SSDI, you can receive “back pay” forup to one year before your application. This means that if your disability began prior to the date you filed, you may be eligible to receive benefits retroactively—up to 12 months before the application date. So, for example, if you wait three years after your disability began to apply for SSDI, you might lose about two years of benefits.


For SSI, you can receive benefits startingthe month after your application. So, if you wait six months after your disability started to apply for SSI, you will generally lose about six months of SSI benefits.


If you wait too long to apply, there may be legal strategies to recover earlier benefits. For example, your attorney can sometimes still establish that you had a "protective filing date" or "reopen a prior application." But, often, claimants lose benefits because they wait too long to apply.


How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

There are four primary ways to apply for SSDI and SSI benefits.


We have opinions on which methods maximize your chances of success and which help your claim move through the process as quickly as possible. Sometimes it's a case-specific recommendation. For the most part, though, it's a matter of personal preference. The applications are probably more "art" than "science." You should do your best when completing the applications. But we aren't sure that we can give many general tips; we mostly have case-specific advice. In the next two sections, however, we touch briefly on two common issues: inaccurate alleged onset dates, and incomplete information.


Consider Your Alleged Onset Date

When filing for disability benefits, one of the most important—but often overlooked—decisions is selecting your alleged onset date: the date you claim that you were first unable to work. Generally, then, the alleged onset date will come shortly after you stopped working. It's rare that the Social Security Administration will find you disabled prior to the date that you alleged.


We can't, in blog post, provide too much advice on alleged onset dates. If you improperly allege disability prior to when your disability began, you may submit inaccurate information (in the worst case scenario, leading to a fraud investigation). But if you allege that your disability started after it actually started, you might lose months of benefits. You need to choose carefully. Sometimes, of course, the alleged onset date is pretty clear: Some previously healthy people become suddenly disabled through a traumatic event, such as a stroke or car accident. But if the alleged onset date isn't clear, we recommend that you consult an attorney.


Provide All the Required Information

If you don't supply all the necessary information, your application may be delayed, dismissed, or denied.


You should start by providing all the requested information on the applications. Without getting into details, think of it this way: Even if you have a serious heart condition, if you don't tell the Social Security Administration which cardiologist you see, then the disability adjudicator won't know anything about the details of your cardiology treatment. They might think that you're just complaining about a minor issue.


Once you’ve submitted your application, the Social Security Administration may ask for additional information to evaluate your claim. Respond to these requests as quickly and completely as possible. In most situations, you should complete and return any questionnaires, attend scheduled medical exams, and provide further documentation if requested.


Even if the requests feel burdensome (or feel repetitive), think of it this way: The adjudicator has to review your disability claim. They may need certain information about your disability in order to approve your claim, and if you don't provide it to them, they can't approve your claim. So, at some point, they will do something other than approving your claim, such as denying your claim.


Social Security Disability Applications Matter

Social Security disability benefits matter, a lot. They can make all the difference in your life. You should take the application seriously. We have repeatedly seen how simple mistakes can make significant differences in claims. While this guide doesn't cover everything, we hope it serves as a helpful starting point as you start your applications.


Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice specific to your situation, please contact Donoff & Lutz, LLC directly to speak with an attorney.

Social Security Disability Initial Claim Processing Times

August 2, 2025
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published a July 2025 report identifying, among other things, how long it takes to receive an initial decision in a Social Security disability claim. While other information has occasionally surfaced about initial claim processing times, the OIG report is presumably the most reliable and trustworthy source. In 2024, an initial disability determination took 238 days to process, on average. But processing times vary widely from state to state. At the quickest, Rhode Island had a five-year processing average of 124.6 days. At the slowest, Alaska had a five-year processing time average of 216.5 days. Given its unique geography, of course, we might spare the Alaska disability determination services unit from harsh criticism. Here in Ohio , we receive a decision within about 4.5 months, on average. Why Disability Claim Wait Times Vary by State Disability processing times vary by state primarily due to differences in state-level resources, staffing levels, and case volumes within each Social Security Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. While the Social Security Administration (SSA) sets national guidelines, each state administers its own DDS, which means local factors—like budget constraints, hiring backlogs, or higher-than-average application rates—can lead to longer or shorter wait times. Additionally, some states may have more experienced staff or streamlined procedures, which can improve efficiency, whereas others might face delays from outdated systems or higher turnover. The Human Cost of Delays in SSDI Decisions Claimants regularly report that these processing times cause immense problems. If you can't work, after all, you won't make any money during the more than seven months (on average) that it will take to receive an initial disability decision. And, of course, many applications will take even longer, whether due to poor luck, difficulties during processing, or state-by-state variation. The majority of claims are also denied at the initial level, and those claims will require more time to appeal. How to Speed Up Your Disability Application To potentially speed up your application, we offer a few tips. 1. Submit a Complete and Accurate Application First, make sure that the initial application is complete and well-documented . Be thorough when describing medical conditions, symptoms, work history, and functional limitations. Incomplete or inconsistent information often leads to delays, or even denials that require appeals. Double-checking all forms for errors and submitting supporting documents with the application can save time and reduce the likelihood of additional requests from the SSA. 2. Respond Promptly to All SSA Requests Second, once a claim is filed, the SSA or DDS might contact an applicant for additional information or to schedule consultative exams. Responding promptly to all phone calls, letters, and requests helps prevent delays. Missing a scheduled exam or failing to return paperwork can stall or derail the decision-making process. 3. Explore Expedited Options if Applicable Finally, SSA will sometimes expedite a claim following a “ dire need ” request—for example, if the applicant is at risk of homelessness. Additionally, the SSA has a “ TERI ” (Terminal Illness) process and Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program to fast-track claims involving certain severe conditions. We will admit that, in our anecdotal experience, these designations do not always seem like they accelerate processing times. Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice specific to your situation, please contact Donoff & Lutz, LLC directly to speak with an attorney.
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If you’re facing challenges when applying for Social Security disability benefits, you’re not alone. Welcome to the blog of Donoff & Lutz, LLC , a boutique Social Security disability law firm based in Dayton, Ohio. With nearly 50 years of experience handling Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims, our firm—indeed, our family—has proudly helped more than ten thousand Ohioans secure their well-earned disability benefits.