How long after approval is the check or deposit made by SSA?

Answer 1

That depends on when one's elligibility begins. Approval is often as far as two or three months ahead of elligibility. The local SSA office or their website should be able to give you an approximate starting date for benefits. They normally begin in the month following the time one becomes elligible. For instance, if I become elligible for benefits in July, and register for benefits promptly enough, I would start receiving benefits in July.