A favorable decision, in the context of social security disability claims, is, obviously, an approval.

More specifically, however, the term "favorable decision" refers to an approval granted by an Administrative Law Judge.

An ALJ who grants a disability claimant a favorable ruling on their claim specifies, in the hearing decision letter, both the reasons for the ruling, as well as the established date of onset for the commencement of disability benefits.

There are actually two types of favorable decisions.

The first type of favorable decision is partially favorable. In this scenario, a claimant is granted disability benefits with the EOD (established date of onset) set later than the date originally alleged by the claimant on the social security disability application.

With the EOD set later than the date claimed by the claimant (known as AOD, or alleged onset date), this has the effect of reducing the total amount in past due benefits a claimant might potentially receive.

The second type of favorable decision is known as a fully favorable decision. In a fully favorable decision, a judge approves a disability case and grants an established onset date which is in full agreement with the onset date alleged by a claimant (AOD).

In other words, if a claimant alleged on an application for disability that they became disabled on November 2nd, 1999, a judge who granted a fully favorable decision to the claimant would be in agreement with that date.

What is the main difference between a partially favorable decision and a fully favorable decision?

Though in both situations, a claimant has been appproved for benefits, the difference will be measured in the amount of back pay, or past due benefits, that a claimant will receive. In many cases, past due benefits can amount to several thousand dollars.