Question on back-pay for SSDI - Disabilities Message Board

rickswife07 · 07-08-2008, 04:44 AM

I have a question about back-pay.
We had SSI,but that is all over now-they have paid us the back-pay on that.
We got our 1st SSDI payment a few weeks afterward (July 3rd,2008)
Now I am wondering how long until we get the SSDI back-pay.SSA said it "should" be within 30 days of the 1st payment, but you know how it goes with what they say!
We did have a lawyer,however our case never went to court, we were approved,at random, before our hearing. I know that he will still be entitled to a portion of our back-pay.
I am just wondering how much longer this whole thing is past (I know some of you are in the same boat)
Any responses would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks! -Rachel

grannygonecrazy · 07-08-2008, 07:58 PM

Rachel, In my letter that i received from SSDI on July 2 it stated that if my attorney would accept the fee that they held out of my SSDI back pay then they would go ahead and pay her fee & send my portion of back pay on to me.They witheld a little over $6,000 to pay my attorney,gee i hope she doesn't want any more than that!!!! I may not be right but i'm assuming after the attorney is paid,then they proceed to pay us our backpay.Please someone if this is not right please correct me.I'm just going by what my letter said,good luck and hope you receive it real soon!!!!

roses4lace · 07-09-2008, 01:01 AM

rickswife, if you are expecting a very large amount of back pay it may take longer, since it needs extra signatures, and in my case, it just sat on someones desk for over 6 months until my lawyer rattled their cages. The max SSA will pay an attorney is $5,300 for handling your case (25% or $5,300, whichever is smaller). If your attorney didn't do anything, perhaps you could negotiate a lower fee from him, play on his sense of fairness, and how little effort was expended on your case. May not change a thing, but it's worth a try.

rickswife07 · 07-09-2008, 04:52 AM

Thanks for the advice Roses! Granny,it sounds like you and I are sitting in the same boat together! They told me the same thing in my letter,that they were withholding 5,300 for the attorney. They told us that we should have our back-pay in 30 days after our 1st payment,maybe less than that. Who knows? It doesn't seem like anyone there knows what is going on! My patience is starting to run thin with them-I have people I want to pay back money we have borrowed! I am sure if I owed the government money they would come right after me and garnish me, but they can just take their time paying us what we are owed! I cannot wait until the day that this is all behind us all-take care and good luck to everyone! -Rachel

justmefl · 07-09-2008, 11:01 AM

I am so sorry, it just sucks for all of us sitting and waiting.
I have not made it to the payment center yet, but I am glad yall are on your way to a finish line.