If your case is finally approved then you will receive two letters. The first letter will be a Notice of Decision letter from the judge that states the judge’s opinion on your case. This letter may state an opinion that is either fully favorable or partially favorable. The difference between these two letters is when the Date of Onset is determined to be. The fully favorable opinion will mean that back pay will be calculated starting the first full month after the claimant first filed for disability. If the opinion is partially favorable the Date of Onset may be set closer to the hearing date reducing the amount of back pay that the claimant will receive. This issue is why it is important to have legal representation to ensure that you get the most favorable Date of Onset as possible.
The second letter will be from the Social Security Office, a Notice of Award. This letter will discuss what benefits you will be receiving including how much back-pay you qualified for, what your monthly check will be for, when you will get your checks each month, your payment options, medical coverage, etc. With any luck, you will start receiving payments the following month on the 1st or 3rd, depending on where you live and what program you qualify for.
If your hearing results in another denial of benefits you will receive a letter from the judge, a Notice of Decision – Unfavorable. At this point in the process you may be fully discouraged and ready to give up, however, you still have one option left for appealing your case. You can still appeal to the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council is a review board that reviews the cases denied by the ALJ. While chances are this appeal will not result in approval, it does give you one last chance at acceptance