Closed Period Benefits

Closed period benefits may be awarded to a Social Security Disability claimant who qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for a period of time in the past but is no longer eligible to continue to receive benefits in the future.

What is the closed period?

The closed period starts at the onset date of disability and continues up until the date the claimant either returns to work (performing substantial gainful activity) or is determined by the SSA as eligible to return to SGA work. In layman’s terms, the closed period is considered the date you became unable to work due to your disability through the date you were able to return to work or the SSA decided you should be able to return to work.

The closed period must be at least 12 continuous months. If the close period is less than 12 continuous months, the claimant does not qualify for SSA disability benefits. Claimants must also file their disability application within 14 months from the date the closed period ended to qualify for SSI or SSDI (deadline may be extended up to 36 months in certain cases).

Who is awarded closed period benefits?

Given the length of time it takes to process disability applications, it is not unusual for some claimants to become disabled, quit work, and apply for SSDI benefits. In some instances, however, after 12 months the claimant may decide they can no longer wait for benefits or their condition improves to such a degree that they can return to full time employment.

Although their case can continue through the disability review process, if the case comes before a judge and the claimant has returned to work, for whatever reason, they no longer will qualify for on-going disability benefits. They also may not qualify for on-going disability benefits if the judge believes they could return to work, regardless of their current work status.

In this case, however, assuming they were disabled for 12 continuous months, the judge may decide to award closed period benefits for the time they were disabled.

The good news is judges are generally more open to awarding closed period benefits because this type of award is much less costly for the Social Security Administration.