# What is a fully favorable decision?

Fully favorable decisions result in past-due benefits (back pay) accrued from the established onset date through the decision, subject to the five-month waiting period.

**Direct answer:** A fully favorable decision is an SSDI decision that grants disability starting on the alleged onset date you claimed, with no earlier date substituted and no closed-period limitation.

## How is a fully favorable decision different from partially favorable?
In a partially favorable decision the SSA finds you disabled, but with a later onset date, a closed period, or a different diagnostic finding than you claimed.

## When are fully favorable decisions issued?
When the record supports disability beginning on the alleged onset date and continuing through the decision.

## What happens next?
The SSA computes past-due benefits, applies the five-month waiting period, and begins ongoing monthly payments.

## Sources
- SSA — Hearing Process — https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_process.html
- SSA — Disability Benefits Publication — https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf

## Related questions
- [What is a partially favorable decision?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-a-partially-favorable-decision)
- [How far back does SSDI back pay go?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-far-back-does-ssdi-back-pay-go)
- [What is the SSDI 5-month waiting period?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-the-ssdi-5-month-waiting-period)
- [SSDI Appeals & Reconsideration](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals)
## Topics
- ALJ Hearing — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-happens-at-an-ssdi-hearing
- SSDI Appeals — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals
- 5-Month Waiting Period — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-the-ssdi-5-month-waiting-period

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