If SSI owes you past due money, can you get an emergency advance from it?
–Shirley

Jonathan Ginsberg responds:  Unfortunately there is no process in place where Social Security can issue an advance even if there is a favorable decision.  I know how frustrating this can be.  I am currently working on a case for a disability client in which I won at the hearing back in July, and received a written favorable decision from the judge.

The Social Security payment office, however, does not show this case as a favorable decision and they are not processing the claim.   I have written the local office as well as the payment office and they have been unable or unwilling to do anything.  Now, we are trying to work through the regional commissioner’s office.

Needless to say, my client is not very happy about all of this – she is a single mom currently living with her parents.

I hope that the delay in payment in your case is only temporary – normally you get your check within about two months after getting a written favorable decision.  In SSI cases, by the way, you will have to go through an "income and resources" meeting to determine whether there will be any offsets to your monthly benefit.

[tags] lump sum payment, advance against lump sum, ssi lump sum, income and resource interview SSI [/tags]