Why do I hear so many people talk about "back pay" on here and everywhere else?

I was born disabled. I battled with applying for disability for over 20 years.

I never got any back pay.

I went to a special attorney and he said there is no such thing as back pay. It's a myth.

So why does everyone here talk about it like it's real?

I received several years worth, as have probably millions of others. The only way an attorney can be paid is out of backpay, so your claim makes no sense.

There are some that will never qualify, of course.

Each case is different. SSI and SSDI are different. There are retroactive benefits ('back pay') if a claim is approved months or years after filing. If a claim is never approved then not only is there no back pay, there is no pay. Or if you are approved immediately, there are no retroactive benefits (back pay). Or if you claim to be disabled for 20 years and SSA says you have only been disabled for two months, there is no back pay. Depends upon application date and established date of onset.

You haven't said whether or not you have been approved for payment so it is hard to explain your situation to you. Or maybe you have been receiving benefits since birth and as a child, would have no memory of any payment, let alone back payment.

This "special attorney" is wrong.