QUESTION: Why is there a five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?ANSWER: The law provides for a five-month waiting period to ensure that during the early months of disability, we only pay benefits to persons who have long-term disabilities.Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after you have been disabled continuously throughout a period of five full calendar months. Therefore, Social Security disability benefits will be paid beginning with the sixth full month after the date your disability began.You are not entitled to benefits for any month in the waiting period.Learn more by reading our online publication, Disability Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.This column was prepared by the Social Security Administration. For fast answers to specific Social Security questions, contact Social Security toll-free at 800-772-1213.