What Happens If You Miss Your Social Security Disability Application Appointment?If you miss your Social Security Disability application appointment, Social Security will send you what is known as a closeout letter. Basically, the closeout letter will give you six months from the date of your denial notice to file for Social Security Disability benefits using the date that you contacted the Social Security Administration as a protective filing date. If you fail to file for Social Security Disability during the six-month period, your new filing date for disability will be when you recontacted Social Security to set up another appointment for a disability application, meaning that you may end up not being eligible for as much in back pay benefits. Closeout letters allow Social Security to limit the scope of their disability application. Simply, it allows them to limit the amount of retroactive benefits payable. Social Security pays twelve months of retroactive benefits provided that there has been substantial work activity for at least seventeen months prior to the protected date of filing. For example, if you contacted Social Security for your disability application appointment on 10/01/15 with an alleged disability onset date (when you first became unable to work at the substantial gainful activity level because of your disabling condition) of 05/01/14, Social Security could potentially pay you retroactive benefits back to 10/14. However, if your disability application appointment was set for 10/15/15 and you miss your appointment on 10/15/15 and do not contact Social Security to reschedule your disability interview until 06/15/16, Social Security will only pay retroactive benefits back to 07/15. Social Security can only pay twelve months back from the protected date of filing of 06/15/16. In this example, even if you allege the same disability onset of 05/01/14, you can only receive retroactive benefits back to 07/15 because of your protected date of filing is 06/15/16, rather than 10/01/15. Once Social Security sends the closeout notice for a missed disability application appointment, they do not contact an applicant again. Rescheduling the disability application interview is the applicant's responsibility. The applicant could miss months of disability benefits if they do not file their disability claim within the six month closeout period, especially if they have not been working for months or even years before they contacted Social Security for their missed disability application interview. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? These pages answer some of the most basic questions for individuals who are considering filing a claim. Applying for Disability in Durham, North Carolina Social Security Disability For Back Condition pain in California How much can you make in California and still apply for disability? Disability requirements and criteria in California |
