Terminal Waiting: Social Security

How long does it take to get the Social Security disability payments that are entitled to you when you finally need it? It can take years and unfortunately, long waiting periods for Social Security disability can be terminal to those waiting.

Without the ability to work, many people who have worked faithfully their entire lives exhaust their savings accounts and end up borrowing money to survive, while those without the ability to borrow lose their homes, move in with family or friends, live in their cars and become homeless.

While money issues can present living problems, the worst issue of waiting for Social Security disability is not how to pay rent or mortgage payments, but how to take care of health expenses.

Denial of healthcare can be terminal. Without money, many people must watch their illnesses get worse, cannot afford doctor bills and medications, and develop worse conditions as they wait for our country’s systems to pull through. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to wait two years to start receiving their payments. The national average wait is 502 days, but some must wait much more.

This system seems unacceptable; we are forced to pay Social Security insurance and then cannot receive when it is needed most.

The Social Security system has hereby been deemed terminally ill. Let’s hope it can get the money and care it needs to stay alive and healthy.








For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center