HOW FAR BACK SHOULD MEDICAL EVIDENCE GO?

The question of how far back to look for medical evidence in a Social Security disability claim can vary case by case.  Typically, we consider the alleged onset date (AOD) and look for evidence beginning about one year prior to that date.  That would certainly not always be the case.  Sometimes the medical evidence needs to go back further.  (The AOD is the date on which the claimant alleges that he/she first became disabled).

One common mistake that claimants make is obtaining recent medical evidence, which may prove that they are disabled now, but failing to obtain older evidence that proves that they became disabled a year ago, two years ago, or longer.  The result can be a partially favorable ruling in which benefits are paid but some or all of the back pay is lost.

If a person alleges that he became disabled on June 1, 2012, for example--it is vital that he provide medical evidence showing a disability back to June 1, 2012.  If he only submits evidence showing a severe disabling impairment beginning in December of 2015, no benefit can be paid under Title 2 until June of 2016 because of the mandatory five-month waiting period.  Thus, there would be no back pay.

Social Security disability is a rather complex field that is governed by complicated laws, federal regulations and even federal court decisions.  Navigating through this complexity is generally best done with professional help, especially at the appeal level.