Backdating Social Security at age 70 - when would I get the 6 months of retroactive payments?

Thank you for explaining! So to be clear, if my age 70 benefit would be about $3,800, the 6 months of backpay would be at a lower rate - maybe around $3,600 per month? And I'd get that as one payment of roughly $21,600 in January, plus start getting my regular $3,800 monthly payments?

That's not correct. SSA allows retroactive benefits up to 6 months for anyone past their Full Retirement Age. The 4-month limitation isn't a standard SSA policy. Perhaps there was a specific reason in your case, like you were only 4 months past your FRA when you applied?

Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you have to specially request the backdating or was it automatically offered when you applied? I'm worried I'll miss out on this option if I don't specifically ask for it.

The tax implication is a good point I hadn't considered. Since my income will be higher next year anyway, maybe it would be better to try to get that lump sum in December 2024 for tax purposes. Would filing earlier in December versus later make a difference in when I'd receive the backpay?

I had the same frustrating experience trying to reach SSA about retroactive benefits, but I found a solution! I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual SSA agent without the endless hold times. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! They even have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I was able to get all my backdating questions answered in one call instead of waiting weeks for an in-person appointment. Definitely worth it for important retirement benefit decisions.

This is right - I worked at the SSA years ago. The retroactive benefits are paid at the rate you would've received during those months, not at your age 70 rate. Monthly benefits increase about 0.67% for each month you delay after FRA until age 70, so backdating means giving up some of that increase for those months.

Good reminder about the withholding! I do have taxes withheld from my SS. Do you know if they withhold at the same rate for the lump sum as they do for regular monthly benefits?

That's helpful info about filing early in December - I'll make sure to do that! Just to be sure I understand correctly: even if I apply early December, my first regular payment would still be for January (arriving early February), correct? And the retroactive lump sum would likely arrive in January sometime?

Thank you for that important clarification! I had been thinking I'd get January's payment in January, but what you're saying makes sense. I'll make sure to plan my finances accordingly with the February start date for regular payments.

That's a really good point about Medicare Part B premiums that I hadn't thought about! I'm actually already enrolled in Medicare Part A but haven't signed up for Part B yet since I'm still working and have employer coverage. Do you know if I can delay Part B enrollment even after I start collecting Social Security, or does starting SS benefits force me into Part B? The $175+ monthly deduction would definitely impact my budget planning for those home repairs.

You can actually delay Medicare Part B enrollment even after starting Social Security benefits if you have qualifying employer coverage! As long as your employer has 20+ employees and you're actively working (not just getting COBRA), you can postpone Part B without penalty. You'll have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up within 8 months of when your employer coverage ends or you stop working, whichever comes first. Just make sure to keep documentation of your employer coverage in case Medicare questions the delay later. This could save you those monthly premiums while you're dealing with your home repair expenses!

This is such helpful analysis! I'm new to navigating Social Security decisions and your breakdown really puts the financial trade-off in perspective. You're absolutely right that $200 less per month permanently is a significant consideration - over 10 years that's $24,000 I'd be giving up for the immediate $21,600. But given my urgent repair situation, having that lump sum now might still be worth it to avoid taking on debt or dipping into other retirement savings. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - as someone just starting this process, all these real-world insights about processing times, tax implications, and Medicare considerations are incredibly valuable!

Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience, Noah! This is exactly the kind of real-world timeline I was hoping to hear about. 5 weeks from approval to receiving the retroactive payment is really helpful to know for planning purposes. I'm definitely going to file online as you suggested - I had been thinking about going to the local office but after reading about Sofia's frustrating experience with appointments and closures, the online route sounds much more reliable. I'll make sure to be very explicit about requesting the full 6-month backdate and will definitely print that confirmation receipt. Really appreciate you taking the time to share these practical details!

This is really valuable advice from a professional perspective, Olivia! I'm actually pretty new to understanding all these retirement benefit decisions, and you're absolutely right that I should explore other financing options before permanently reducing my monthly benefits. I hadn't even thought about a home equity line of credit - that's definitely something I should look into. The way you put it as "borrowing against future benefits" really helps frame the true cost. I'm going to call a few lenders this week to see what rates they might offer, and I'll also check if any of my repairs might qualify for those tax credits you mentioned. Thank you for encouraging me to take a step back and consider the bigger picture - sometimes when you're dealing with urgent repairs, it's easy to jump at the first solution without fully weighing all the alternatives!

Thank you for mentioning the state assistance programs - I hadn't thought to look into those! I'm going to research what's available in my area before making any final decisions. The tax bracket consideration is also really important. Since I'm still working part-time, that lump sum could definitely push me higher than I want to be for 2025. I'm starting to think maybe I should talk to both a financial planner and tax professional before filing, especially after reading Olivia's advice about considering all financing options. It sounds like the online application process is definitely the consensus here though - I'll get my tax returns ready and start gathering the other documents I'll need. This community has been incredibly helpful for someone just starting to navigate these decisions!

This is exactly the kind of thorough analysis I needed to hear about! Creating a spreadsheet to compare all options over different time periods is such a smart approach. I'm definitely going to do something similar before making my final decision. It's really encouraging to hear that you found state programs you qualified for - that gives me hope that there might be options in my area too. Your point about not rushing the decision really resonates with me. Even though the home repairs feel urgent, taking a few extra weeks to properly evaluate all my financing options could save me thousands in the long run. Thank you for sharing your experience with the HELOC option - 7.2% interest sounds much more reasonable than permanently reducing my monthly Social Security benefits. I'm going to start making calls to lenders and researching state programs this week!

This spreadsheet approach is brilliant! As someone who's also new to these Social Security decisions, I'm realizing how important it is to look at the long-term numbers rather than just the immediate need. Your HELOC rate of 7.2% actually sounds pretty competitive given current interest rates. I'm curious - when you were researching state emergency repair programs, did you find them through your state's aging services department or housing authority? I want to make sure I'm looking in the right places. Also, did the HELOC application process take long? I'm wondering if I should start that research in parallel with exploring the state programs, just to have multiple options ready. Thanks for emphasizing not to rush - sometimes when you're dealing with urgent home issues, it's easy to feel like you need to make a decision immediately!

I found the state programs through multiple sources actually - started with my state's Department of Housing website, then checked the Area Agency on Aging, and also called 211 (the community resource helpline) which was incredibly helpful! They connected me with two programs I never would have found on my own: one through the state housing finance agency for emergency repairs, and another through a local nonprofit that specifically helps people over 62. The HELOC process took about 3 weeks from application to closing, but I started gathering documents early (tax returns, pay stubs, home value estimates) which sped things up. Definitely start the research in parallel - having multiple options gave me negotiating power and peace of mind. One tip: when you call 211, ask specifically about "emergency home repair assistance" and "senior financial assistance programs" - they have databases that aren't always easy to find online!

This is such valuable advice about doing a thorough financial comparison! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - turning 70 soon and dealing with some unexpected expenses. Your spreadsheet idea makes so much sense, and I love that you actually found state programs that worked for you. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who took the time to explore all options rather than just jumping at the first solution. I'm definitely going to follow your approach and create my own comparison spreadsheet. The fact that you came out ahead financially even with the HELOC interest payments really drives home how significant that permanent monthly benefit reduction can be. Thank you for sharing such detailed, practical advice - it's exactly what those of us new to these decisions need to hear!