1. What Is SSDI Back Pay?

SSDI back pay is the retroactive payment of benefits covering the time between:

• The date you became disabled (your established onset date, or EOD)
• And the date your application is approved

Since SSDI claims can take months or even years to process, back pay compensates you for the period when you were eligible but had not yet begun receiving monthly payments.

2. How Does SSDI Back Pay Work in Tennessee?

When SSA approves your SSDI claim, they calculate:

• Your established onset date (EOD), the date they determine you became disabled
• A five-month waiting period after your EOD during which no benefits are paid
• The months between the end of your waiting period and your approval date

You will then receive lump sum back pay covering that entire eligible period.

3. Example of Back Pay Calculation

• You became disabled on January 1, 2023
• Your five-month waiting period ends in May 2023
• Your claim is approved in March 2025

You would receive back pay for June 2023 through March 2025, paid as a lump sum after your approval.

4. Is Retroactive Pay Different From Back Pay?

Yes. In addition to back pay, you might qualify for retroactive benefits if:

• You became disabled before your application date, up to 12 months prior
• You can prove you were disabled during that time with medical evidence

Retroactive benefits are also paid in a lump sum along with back pay.

5. How Will I Receive SSDI Back Pay?

SSDI back pay is typically deposited directly into your bank account or sent as a check. Payments are made shortly after approval, but processing may take a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on SSA workloads.

6. Taxes on SSDI Back Pay

SSDI back pay is considered taxable income, but special tax rules apply to spread the income over the years it was intended to cover, potentially lowering your tax liability.