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That depends on when you became disabled and when you file an application for Social Security disability benefits.  Social Security will consider if you were disabled for a closed period.  

We encourage all veterans and military service personnel who could be eligible for a closed period of disability to contact their local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213 to file for potential disability benefits.

A closed period of disability is determined when medical evidence establishes that you were unable to engage in substantial gainful work activity for a continuous period of 12 months, but by the time the disability decision is made, you have medically recovered.  

You must also meet the following requirements to be entitled to a closed period of disability:

• You must have filed an application within 14 months after the 'disability' ended; or 
• You must have filed an application between 15 and 36 months after the 'disability' ended and you must show that your failure or inability to file a timely application was due to your physical or mental incapability.  You may be entitled to a period of disability but not to monthly disability benefit payments.  A closed period of disability helps protect your insured status and increases potential future retirement or disability benefits.

If you meet the requirements for disability benefits, you must serve a five month waiting period before your first monthly benefit can be paid.  You can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits from the date your application is filed with Social Security.   

For Example:

• You file an application for Social Security disability benefits in December 2007.
• After reviewing your claim, we find that your disability started on April 15, 2006 and that your condition improved to the point that you were no longer considered disabled as of September 2007. We refer to this as a closed period of disability. 
• Your five-month waiting period begins May 2006, the first full month you are disabled. The months in your waiting period are May, June, July, August and September.  Thus, the first month for which you are due disability benefits is October 2006.
• Your disability ended in September 2007.  SSA pays benefits for September 2007, the month your disability ended, plus two additional months.  So, based upon the application date of December 2007, you could receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits for December 2006 through November 2007.