For disability insurance benefits and disabled widow’s and widower’s benefits, the benefits cannot begin until five months after the person becomes disabled. Benefits also
can’t be paid more than one year prior to the date of the claim. For a disabled adult child, there is no five-month waiting period before benefits begin, but benefits cannot be paid more than six
months prior to the date of the claim. SSI benefits cannot be paid prior to the start of the month following the date of the claim.