Disability Benefits & The Payment Center: How Long?

To whom it may concern: I was approved in November and I still have not recieved anything. The payment center received my case in December---I was wondering how long it will be before I will get a check or some type of benefits.

Unfortunately, there's no way for anyone (not even the social security claims rep who has been assigned to your case) to know how long the payment center may have your file. However, your notice of award, when received, should give you some specifics regarding your disbursement of benefits.

If, of course, an inordinately long period of time elapses between the date of your approval notice and the time you receive your first benefit check (or even your notice of award since this can sometimes take quite a while to process), then it would not be inadvisable to contact your local social security office. (See also How Disability Payment Dates are Determined).

In many cases, though a claims rep may know little more than you regarding the status of your benefit distribution, that individual, nonetheless, can make a status call to the payment center on your behalf.