Can I claim SSDI retroactively for medical condition from 5 years ago when I had work credits?

Unfortunately, there's no way to get SSDI benefits retroactively for that full 5-year period. Social Security only allows you to receive retroactive payments for up to 12 months prior to your application date. So if you applied today, the earliest you could potentially get payments would be 12 months back, not the full 5 years.

are u still disabled now? cuz if ur not disabled anymore then u cant apply anyway. ssdi is for ppl who cant work NOW not who couldnt work in the past

To clarify some important points about your situation: 1. The 12-month retroactive benefit limitation is correct, but there's another critical factor: the 5-month waiting period. SSDI has a mandatory 5-month waiting period from your established onset date before benefits begin. 2. More importantly for your case: You need to still be disabled now to qualify for SSDI. If your medical condition has improved to the point where you no longer meet SSA's definition of disability, you wouldn't be eligible regardless of retroactivity rules. 3. If you are currently disabled, you should apply immediately and request an "established onset date" from 5 years ago. You'll need substantial medical evidence from that time period showing when your disability began. 4. Regarding your work credits: They do expire. To qualify for SSDI, you generally need to have worked 5 out of the 10 years before becoming disabled. If it's been 5 years since you worked, you should check your earnings record on my.ssa.gov to see if you still have enough recent work credits. I recommend speaking with an SSA representative directly about your specific situation.

When I was applying for my SSDI last year, I had the SAME EXACT PROBLEM trying to reach someone at Social Security! I'd call at exactly 8am when they opened and still wait for hours or get disconnected. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) after my neighbor told me about it. They basically hold your place in line and call you when an actual SSA agent is on the phone. Saved me literally days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Worth every penny for something this important!

my cousin was in kinda the same boat, he could have gotten disability for YEARS before he applied. when he finally did apply they only gave him like 11 months of back pay. so yeah there's definitely a limit on how far back they'll go. such garbage honestly

One critical thing no one has mentioned yet: even if you're still disabled now, your insured status for SSDI might have expired. SSDI requires you to be "currently insured" - meaning you need to have worked enough in the recent past. Typically, you need 20 work credits earned in the 10 years before becoming disabled. If you haven't worked in 5 years, you need to verify if you're still insured for SSDI purposes. This is separate from whether you're medically disabled. You can check your current insured status by creating an account at my.ssa.gov or contacting SSA directly.

Hi I had something similar happen to me! I got disabled in 2018 but didn't apply til 2021 because I was trying to keep working part time and didn't know I could get SSDI while doing that under SGA limits. When I finally did apply they would only backpay me for 12 months before my application date even though I had medical proof going back 3 years. It's really frustrating but that seems to be how it works for everyone.

Just to add one more important point: If you're currently disabled but your insured status has expired (meaning you no longer have enough recent work credits for SSDI), you might still qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) if your income and resources are below the threshold. SSI is need-based rather than work-credit based. However, SSI has no retroactive payments before the application date at all. And the resource limits are quite strict - generally $2,000 for individuals ($3,000 for couples) in countable resources. If you decide to apply for either program, be prepared with: 1. Detailed medical records from 5 years ago to establish your onset date 2. A list of all doctors, hospitals, and treatments 3. Information about any work attempts since your condition began 4. How your condition limits your ability to work Good luck with your situation!