Not affiliated with the US Social Security Administration
Social Security Disability back pay is an amount owed to you which was not paid during your disability determination period. This is a one-time payment which you'll generally receive 3-4 months after your regular disability payments start.
If you receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits and file for bankruptcy, your checks are usually safe.
If your benefits come from SSI, which is a welfare program for the needy, they are always exempt from creditor claims.
However, SSDI payments technically qualify as "work" income, so they may be subject to bankruptcy claims.
Here is a link to the "Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2009". This report provides a wealth of statistical information on the Social Security Disability program.
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2009/index.html
Highlights
Size and Scope of the Social Security Disability Program
* Disability benefits were paid to over 8.9 million people.
* Awards to disabled workers (970,696) accounted for over 89 percent of awards to all disabled beneficiaries (1,081,983).
Not affiliated with the US Social Security Administration
