When applying for Arkansas Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), one of the most important choices you’ll make is selecting your alleged onset date—the date you claim your disability began.
For individuals over age 50, this choice can have a huge impact on the success of the claim and the amount of back pay awarded. Unfortunately, many people make critical mistakes when choosing this date, especially when they don’t consult with an experienced Arkansas disability attorney.
At The Krebs Law Firm, we help clients throughout Harrison, Arkansas, and surrounding areas file strong disability claims and avoid the common traps that lead to delays or denials.
Let’s walk through the five most common mistakes people over 50 make when choosing their Arkansas disability onset date, and how you can avoid them.
Choosing the Wrong Onset Date
Many people assume the onset date should match the date they apply for benefits or the date of their last doctor visit.
In reality, your onset date should typically reflect when you stopped working at the level of “substantial gainful activity” (SGA)—which in 2025 means earning more than $1,620 per month.
In most cases, the best onset date is the last day you worked full-time. But there are exceptions:
- If you reduced your hours and income before stopping work, and your earnings fell below SGA levels, your onset date might be earlier.
- If you continued working with special accommodations or assistance, you may also be eligible to use an earlier onset date.
The wrong onset date can cost you months of back pay or even result in a denial if it doesn’t align with your medical and work history.
Using an Onset Date While Still Working at SGA Level
If you’re still working and earning over the Substantial Gainful Activity threshold, you can’t legally claim that you’re disabled during that period.
Choosing an onset date while you were still working full-time—or earning too much—can lead the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deny your claim.
Example:
Let’s say you stopped working in July 2024, but you pick March 2024 as your onset date because that’s when your symptoms got worse.
If you were still working full-time in March and earning more than $1,620/month, Social Security won’t consider that a valid onset date.
The Social Security Administration may view your claim as lacking credibility, even if your disability is real.
It’s always better to choose a date after you dropped below Substantial Gainful Activity levels or stopped working completely—unless your circumstances support an earlier onset, which your Arkansas disability attorney can help you prove.
Using the Application Date as the Onset Date
Another mistake we frequently see at our Harrison office is applicants using their application date as their onset date.
This can be a costly error—especially for older applicants who may be eligible for early approval under “grid rules” or who are trying to maximize their back pay.
Why Is This A Problem?
If you stopped working in July 2024 but didn’t apply until October 2024, choosing the October date as your onset date may cause you to lose three months of benefits and back pay.
Instead, your onset date should reflect when your medical condition first stopped you from being able to work full-time, not when you filled out the application.
Choosing an Onset Date After Your Date Last Insured (DLI)
For Social Security Disability Insurance claims, your work history determines your insured status.
If you haven’t worked in several years, you may have a Date Last Insured (DLI)—usually around five years after you stop working. You must prove you were disabled before that date to be eligible for benefits.
This is one of the trickiest mistakes because most applicants don’t know their Date Last Insured.
If you unknowingly choose an onset date that falls after your Date Last Insured, the Social Security Administration will likely deny your Social Security Disability Insurance claim—even if your disability is well-documented.
How to avoid this:
- Review your “My Social Security” account or consult with an Arkansas disability attorney to determine your Date Last Insured.
- If your Date Last Insured is approaching (or has passed), choose an onset date before that deadline—even if your symptoms worsened later.
- You can always adjust the date forward later in the process, but you can’t move it backward once you’ve passed your Date Last Insured.
Waiting Too Long to File for Disability
Perhaps the biggest mistake we see is waiting too long to apply. Some people think their condition will improve, or they’re involved in a long workers’ compensation case, and they put off filing for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Others simply don’t know they’re eligible.
Unfortunately, if you wait too long:
- You may lose your insured status, making you ineligible for Social Security Disability Insurance entirely.
- You’ll have to prove you were disabled years ago, which is extremely difficult.
- Medical records from years ago may be missing or incomplete, making it hard to build a solid case.
Example:
We spoke with a prospective client in Harrison, AR who last worked in 2013 but didn’t apply until 2025. Her Date Last Insured expired in 2018. Now, she must prove she was disabled as far back as 2018—a nearly impossible task without consistent records.
If you believe you might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, don’t delay.
Filing early preserves your claim and protects your rights.
Get Professional Help Before Choosing Your Arkansas Disability Onset Date
Your Arkansas disability onset date is one of the most important parts of your Social Security Disability Insurance application. It affects:
- Whether your claim is approved
- How much back pay you receive
- Whether you meet insured status requirements
At The Krebs Law Firm, we work closely with clients across Boone County, Newton County, and all of northern Arkansas to select the best Arkansas Disability Onset Date, build strong medical evidence, and ensure the claim is handled properly from the start.
If you’re over 50 and considering filing for disability benefits, we can help guide you through:
- Reviewing your work and medical history
- Understanding your Date Last Insured
- Maximizing your chances of approval under the Social Security Administration’s age-specific rules
Need Help with Your Arkansas Social Security Disability Claim?
At The Krebs Law Firm, we specialize in Social Security Disability law and are dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of the application process. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
At The Krebs Law Firm, we fight as hard as we can to help you get the disability coverage you deserve. Call today for a free consultation at (870) 741-8100 or toll free at (800) 345-0535.
It can be daunting learning the ins and outs of Social Security Disability benefits, but it’s not a task you need to take on alone. Call on an Arkansas Disability Attorney from The Krebs Law Firm to help you every step of the way.
We offer a free book on Social Security Disability benefits to Arkansas residents. Give us a call at (870) 741-8100. We have an office in Harrison, Arkansas just a couple of doors down from the Harrison Social Security Office.
Jason Krebs is licensed in both Arkansas and Missouri. Our main office is in Springfield Missouri. Our Harrison Arkansas office is by appointment only. The address is 125 Industrial Park Road Suite E1 Harrison Arkansas 72601. Our local phone number in Harrison is (870) 741-8100. Our Toll Free phone number is (800) 345-0535. You can also send us an email to contact@KrebsLawOffice.com.