Alleged Onset Date

What is an Alleged Onset Date?

The Alleged Onset Date (AOD) is the date that an individual claims as the start of their disability in their Social Security Disability (SSD) claim. This date is used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine the individual's eligibility for benefits, and to calculate the amount of benefits they may be entitled to receive.

When an individual applies for SSD benefits, they must provide the SSA with the date that they believe their disability began. This date is known as the Alleged Onset Date. The AOD is used by the SSA to determine the individual's eligibility for benefits, and to calculate the amount of benefits they may be entitled to receive.

For example, if an individual's AOD is January 1, 2020, the SSA will consider the individual to be disabled as of that date. If the individual is approved for benefits, they will be entitled to receive benefits for the period starting from the AOD.

Why does the Alleged Onset Date matter?

The AOD is important for several reasons. It helps the SSA to determine the individual's eligibility for benefits, and it also helps to calculate the amount of benefits the individual may be entitled to receive. Additionally, the AOD can also be used to determine the individual's eligibility for other government programs, such as Medicaid or Medicare.

It's important to note that the SSA does not always accept the AOD that an individual provides. The SSA may determine that the individual's disability began on a date different from the AOD provided. This can happen if the SSA finds that the individual's medical condition did not meet the definition of disability until a later date.

The SSA will review the medical evidence provided by the individual and will consider the individual's medical condition, age, education, and work experience when making a determination of the onset date. This can also happen if the individual's medical condition improved and then worsened again, in that case the SSA will consider the latest date of aggravation.

It's also worth noting that there's a five month waiting period for SSD benefits to start, which means that the earliest date an individual can receive benefits is five months after the AOD.

The AOD is used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine the individual's eligibility for benefits, and to calculate the amount of benefits they may be entitled to receive. It's important for the individual to provide an accurate AOD as it will be used in determining their eligibility for benefits and other government programs. The SSA may also determine that the individual's disability began on a date different from the AOD provided, and will consider the individual's medical condition, age, education, and work experience when making a determination of the onset date. Additionally, there's a five month waiting period for SSD benefits to start, which means that the earliest date an individual can receive benefits is five months after the AOD.