Congratulations on such a speedy "fully favorable decision" letter from SS. I know when I opened mine is was a relieve and somewhat of a let down. I had a great career as a Software Consultant, and even had IBM Varship which is a special type of relationship with IBM to combine the services of our custom software with only there micro computers, and PC/Internet Based Hardware and Operating System such as Windows 7 and it came with many other perks. And I still do work 2 days a week , as a Business Consultant to a small, small family business. You are allowed to work when collecting disability, you just have to watch the dollars you make before they start to deduct from your check. Getting out those couple of days does wonders for my sanity. Anyway, you got great information the only thing I did not see anyone mention is that from your onset date, which social security gives you to your first month you receive a regular check, if you have or had minor children during the waiting period you are allowed to file for back benefits for the children and if you still have any minors you will get a monthly check for them also until they are out of High School. FYI: I have even read that they might extend it to even college students but then the checks go directly to them. I have one of each so I got explanation on both. And my son's waiting check came to him, of course he turned it over to me, but he's in college so he does not get a monthly check. And unfortunitly you do not get RX benefits with disability medicare everthing is the same except for that. So, if you do not have a secondary to cover the Rx's, I have through my husbands job, then I believe you can purchase such a plan and I do not have any idea what it cost but I don't think it's to expensive and I even think the money can come out right out of your check . But don't quote me on that.

To end, my case worker at the SS Office was a great help informing me of what I was entitled to. The order of how it went for me was 1. I got my "Fully Favorable Decision Letter", 2-Letter stating what my onset date is, what back pay I would get and when my first regular check would start and the amount of that. This letter also confirms that the set fee allowed my the goverment was sent to my attorney, if you used an attorney, and 3- Then I filed for my children which only took about 2 months to process for my minor and a little longer for my son because they really confirmed he graduated from High School, a diploma was not good enough they contacted the school directly and I don't know why I also had to confirm his full-time status in college.

I hope this was a help but go to your case worker and she will clear up any questions. I did not know about the childrens benefits until she told me.

Good Luck,

Gabbycakes