Thank you for maintaining an excellent website. I am applying for Social Security Disability. My last day at work was October 31, 2019 and I left work because I became disabled. Prior to terminating my employment, I was on sick leave (because of the same disabling condition) starting October 20, 2019 until my final official day at work on October 31, 2019. When applying for Social Security Disability would my onset date be October 20, 2019 rather than November 1, 2019? If approved for SSDI, would I receive SSDI payment for the FULL first month of SSDI payments (even though I was still drawing full salary for October of 2019 )? I presume my Medicare payments would also be calculated from the first of month?

Hi,

Periods of time that you were on sick leave wouldn't count against you when determining your potential onset date for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit purposes. So, if October 20 2019 was your last day of actual work then that would likely be the date you would want to list as your onset date.

That said, however, there would be no material difference between an onset date of October 20 2019 vs. November 1 2019 for SSDI purposes. Either way, your 5 month waiting period would then run from November 2019 through March 2020, making April 2020 your first month of potential SSDI eligibility.

Medicare eligibility begins with the earlier of a) the 25th month of SSDI entitlement, or b) the month of age 65 attainment. So, assuming you don't turn age 65 sooner, if your first month of SSDI entitlement is April 2020, your Medicare eligibility would start April 1 2022.

Best, Jerry