Barkan Meizlish , March 24, 2020

What Does Onset Date Mean?

Simply put, an onset date is a date that you initially sustained an injury or became disabled. This is something that plays a significant role in your SSI approval and back pay amount and can make or break your Social Security Disability case. If you need assistance in determining your onset date you should consult with a reputable disability lawyer like those here at Barkan Meizlish LLP. 

Determining the onset date for a disability involves the consideration of your allegations, work history if any, and any medical and other evidence concerning the severity of your medical condition. There are two distinct onset date classifications that you need to understand when dealing with SSI disability. AOD, or alleged onset date, is the date you will provide the social security administration when applying for your benefits. The EOD, or established onset date, is the date in which the social security administration has established the start of your disability.

Alleged Onset Date

Your alleged onset date is the date that you submit to the SSA when filing your claim. This is very important as it will determine the amount of backpay you are eligible to receive up to a maximum of 12 months worth. If the Social Security Administration approves your AOD then you will receive back pay starting 5 months after your AOD, to the day your claim was approved. For example:

• AOD is 1/1/2019
• Claim accepted 8/1/2019
• You receive back pay between 6/1 and 8/1 of 2019.

Established Onset Date

If the Social Security Administration disagrees with your alleged onset date then they may instead opt for a new later EOD, or established onset date. This can only be done if they have sufficient medical evidence proving that your onset date is later than the AOD you submitted. On the other hand, if the AOD is accepted and approved it effectively becomes the new EOD.

Disputing EOD

If you feel that the SSA has cheated you of some back pay then you can dispute the established onset date through the DDS, or Disability Determination Services. Upon this, the DDS will review the EOD and determine whether or not it is going to be upheld. 

Disputing an EOD should not be taken lightly as it may trigger a review of the disability determination and could potentially trigger a complete revocation of the disability ruling.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that if the EOD is still more than 17 months before the initial SSI claim then you won’t be losing any backpay and should refrain from disputing the EOD altogether. To prevent losing your benefits over a discrepancy in AOD and EOD, you should consult with one of our Columbus disability lawyers at Barkan Meizlish LLP.

Disability Lawyer Columbus, Ohio

Filing for SSI disability is a complex task that should not be taken on alone. You have already dealt with enough from your injury and trying to take on the entire Social Security Administration without the help of a professional will only make things worse. More information on social security disability can be found here.

If you need assistance in determining your AOD or disputing an unfair EOD then you need to contact the trusted disability lawyers here at Barkan Meizlish LLP. We will walk you through every step of your claim and ensure you get the monthly compensation you deserve.

If you have any question about your disability onset, our Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security attorneys may be able to help. Give Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP a call today.

Originally published on May 13th, 2015.