From my head on veterans laywers
Q: When will social security benefits begin, after an individual has received approval for disability? A: A person must be out of the workforce due to the medical condition for a minimum of five months before social security benefits can begin. Ideally, in that sixth month, a qualified individual would start receiving benefits. If you have applied, but have not yet received notification for approval, the processing time can vary. How long it takes to receive requested medical records is what dictates the length of processing time in most cases. The disability examiner cannot make a decision about your case until he has reviewed your medical records.