1 Don't respond to unwanted calls, the FTC says --even if the call says you should press a number to opt-out of future messages. 2  All that will do is verify to the spammer or scammer that your number is real. 3  Similarly, don't respond to unwanted text messages--or click on any links.
(This maximum gets you to 12 months before your application date, plus five months for the waiting period, so your earliest your effective onset date can be is 17 months before the application date.) In this case, the earliest that you can become eligible for Medicare is one year after you apply for Social Security disability.
If you experience a debilitating injury, you may have a longer waiting period before receiving benefits. Long term disability claims normally take up to 90 days to process, sometimes longer. After your claim is settled, you can receive benefits for several years, until you reach age 65, or until you recover. Some policies pay benefits for the rest of your life, although this varies by policy and by insurer.