Closed Period

The closed period is the time between the onset date of disability and the point in time when the claimant began performing substantial gainful activity or the date you were able to return to work. The closed period must have lasted at least 12 continuous months, and under most conditions, you must file the SSDI or SSI application within 14 months from the date the disability ended.

A claimant may be awarded benefits for a closed period if they can prove they were disabled and eligible for benefits for a specific period in the past, even if the SSA determines their condition has improved and they are no longer eligible for continuing benefits.

Closed period benefits are common when a claimant applies for disability benefits but then decides they are able to return to work before their case is approved. In other words, the Social Security Administration decides you are entitled to a period of disability benefits but not to ongoing monthly disability benefit payments in the future.

This most frequently occurs when a judge hears the disability case and either finds the claimant was at one time disabled but now their health has significantly improved to the point they can return to work, or the claimant is already working at an SGA level but they were unemployed and unable to work for a closed period of time.