Can I collect 6 months of Social Security back pay if I wait until 70 and a half to file?

you can definitely do that! i waited till 70 and 4 months to file and got backpay to when i turned 70. They will automatically pay you back to ur 70th bday no matter when you file after that. my neighbor waited almost a whole year and got all his money.

You're partially correct, but let me clarify how this works with delayed retirement credits (DRCs). You earn delayed retirement credits for each month you delay claiming past your Full Retirement Age up to age 70. After 70, no additional DRCs accumulate. If you file after turning 70, the SSA will automatically pay you retroactive benefits back to age 70, up to 6 months. So yes, you can file at 70 and 6 months and receive those missed payments in a lump sum. However, waiting beyond 70 doesn't increase your monthly benefit amount - it just means you missed payments you were entitled to. To maximize your benefits, you should apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. Since you're planning to maximize by waiting until 70, I'd recommend applying around age 69 and 8 months with a specified start date of your 70th birthday month.

My sister waIted til she was 71 to file and Social Secrity only gave her 6 months of back pay!!!! They STOLE 6 months of HER MONEY that she paid in all those years!!! The government doesnt want u to know this but they will ONLY back pay 6 months no matter how long u wait!! The system is RIGGED

I had such a nightmare trying to sort this out with Social Security last year. I turned 70 in March 2024 but didn't apply until December because I was caring for my sick husband. When I called SS to file, I was on hold for 3+ hours only to get disconnected. Then I tried visiting my local office, but they were appointment-only with a 2-month wait. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SS agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what others have said - I got 6 months of back payments to June 2024, but lost the payments from March-May since they only go back 6 months maximum. Wish I'd known this earlier!

I waited until I was 70 years and 8 months to file last year and everyone here is right, they only gave me 6 months of backpay. But I'm wondering - does the backpay come as one big lump sum? Does that affect taxes? I got hit with a huge tax bill because suddenly my income was much higher for that year. Just something to consider when you're planning!

Thank you all for your helpful responses! This clarifies things - it sounds like I should: 1. Plan to apply 3-4 months before my 70th birthday in June 2025 2. Specify that I want benefits to start the month I turn 70 3. Be aware of the potential tax implications of receiving benefits And most importantly - there's absolutely no advantage to waiting beyond age 70 to file. I'm glad I asked here before potentially losing months of benefits!

Great thread everyone! Just wanted to add one more practical tip for Mei - when you apply 3-4 months before your 70th birthday, make sure to explicitly tell the SSA representative that you want your benefits to BEGIN in your birth month (June 2025), not the month you're applying. Sometimes there can be confusion about this, and you want to make absolutely sure they understand you're not trying to start benefits early, but rather scheduling them to start at the optimal time when you turn 70. Also keep all your documentation - application number, confirmation letters, etc. The whole process can take 2-3 months to fully process, so applying early gives you a buffer in case there are any delays or issues that need to be resolved.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year. I turned 70 in August 2024 and applied in May 2024 with a start date of August. Everything went smoothly and I received my first payment right on schedule. One thing I learned that might help others - when you call to apply, they'll ask if you want to apply for Medicare Part B at the same time if you haven't already. Make sure you understand how this affects your Medicare premiums and coverage, especially if you're still working or have other health insurance. The SSA rep was very helpful in explaining all the options, but it's good to research this beforehand so you're not making important Medicare decisions on the spot during your benefits application call.

This is such valuable information for anyone approaching 70! I'm currently 68 and have been going back and forth on the timing of my application. Reading through everyone's experiences has really helped clarify the process. One question I have - for those who applied 3-4 months early, did you notice any difference in how quickly your application was processed compared to people who applied closer to their 70th birthday? I'm wondering if there's an advantage to applying even earlier to avoid any potential processing delays, or if 3-4 months is really the sweet spot. Also, has anyone here had experience with changing their benefit start date after initially filing? I'm paranoid about making a mistake on the timing and want to know if there's any flexibility once you've submitted your application.

As someone who just went through this process at 70, I can confirm what others have shared here. The key things that helped me were: 1) Applying exactly 4 months before my 70th birthday, 2) Being very explicit with the SSA rep that I wanted benefits to START in my birth month (not when I was applying), and 3) Getting everything in writing with confirmation numbers. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're married, make sure you understand how your decision affects spousal benefits too. My wife was able to claim spousal benefits based on my maximized benefit amount, but the timing coordination was important. Also, don't forget that your Medicare Part A starts automatically at 65, but Part B enrollment timing can affect both your Medicare premiums and Social Security benefits if you're not careful about the coordination. The whole process took about 10 weeks from application to first payment, so definitely don't wait until the last minute. Good luck with your June 2025 timeline - you're asking the right questions now!

I'm approaching this decision myself and wanted to add something I learned from my financial advisor that might help others - when you're planning your application timing, also consider your overall tax strategy for that year. If you're still working or have significant other income in the year you turn 70, receiving 6+ months of Social Security in one year (your regular monthly payments plus any backpay) could push you into a higher tax bracket or trigger additional Medicare surcharges (IRMAA). In some cases, it might actually be beneficial from a tax perspective to start benefits exactly at 70 rather than waiting and getting a lump sum later, even though the total dollar amount would be the same. This is especially true if you expect your other income to be lower in future years. Just another angle to consider when doing your planning - the "optimal" strategy isn't always just about maximizing Social Security dollars, but about optimizing your overall financial picture including taxes.

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm 69 and have been stressing about the timing for months. Reading everyone's experiences has really helped me understand that the 6-month retroactive payment rule is real, but there's absolutely no benefit to waiting beyond 70. One thing I wanted to add from my research - I've been using the Social Security Administration's online retirement estimator tool (ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html) to model different scenarios, and it's been really helpful for visualizing exactly how much I'd receive at different claiming ages. For anyone still on the fence about timing, I'd recommend plugging in your numbers there to see the concrete dollar differences. Also, for those worried about getting through to SSA on the phone, I've found that calling right when they open at 8 AM local time significantly reduces wait times. I called last week just to ask some preliminary questions and only waited about 15 minutes versus the horror stories of 3+ hour holds. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's so much more valuable than just reading the official SSA publications!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 68 and planning to wait until 70, but I was also confused about the 6-month retroactive payment rule. Reading everyone's real experiences has clarified so much. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my HR department - if you're still working when you turn 70 (like I plan to be), make sure you understand the Social Security earnings test doesn't apply once you reach full retirement age. So unlike claiming early, there's no penalty for continuing to work and earn income while receiving SS benefits at 70. This was a relief since I was worried I'd have to choose between maximizing my benefits and continuing to work part-time. Also, for anyone dealing with the phone wait times, my local library actually has a "Senior Navigator" program where volunteers help people navigate Social Security applications. Might be worth checking if your area has something similar - they can sometimes help you prepare all your information in advance so your actual call with SSA goes more smoothly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't find in the official pamphlets!

I'm 67 and have been following this discussion with great interest as I plan my own strategy for age 70. One aspect I haven't seen mentioned yet is what happens if you have health issues that might affect your longevity calculations. My financial planner suggested I consider not just the "break-even" analysis of when delayed credits pay off, but also factor in my family health history and current health status. If there's a reasonable chance I might not live into my 80s, waiting until 70 might not be optimal even though it maximizes monthly payments. Has anyone here factored health considerations into their decision about when to claim? I'm torn between maximizing my monthly benefit by waiting until 70 versus starting earlier to ensure I get more total benefits if my health takes a turn. The 6-month retroactive rule is helpful to know about, but it doesn't really change this fundamental question about timing based on life expectancy. Also, does anyone know if there are any provisions for people who become disabled after age 70 but before they file? Just trying to think through all the potential scenarios before making this irreversible decision.

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's 68 and planning to file at 70, I wanted to add one more consideration that my elder law attorney mentioned - the importance of having all your documentation organized before you apply. Beyond just knowing when to file, make sure you have easy access to your birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), tax returns from the last few years, and any military service records. The SSA rep will need to verify various details, and having everything ready can make the process much smoother. Also, if you have any name changes throughout your life (maiden names, etc.), be prepared to provide documentation for those as well. I learned this the hard way when helping my sister apply - what should have been a straightforward call turned into weeks of back-and-forth because she couldn't immediately provide proof of a name change from 30 years ago. One last tip: consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov before you apply. You can review your earnings history to make sure everything is accurate, which could save time during your application call. Plus, once you start receiving benefits, you can access statements and manage certain aspects of your account online rather than having to call. The collective wisdom in this thread has been invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences!

This thread has been absolutely fantastic! I'm 69 and have been losing sleep over the Social Security timing decision, but reading everyone's real experiences has given me so much clarity and confidence. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's experiences have been with the 6-month retroactive rule - it's clearly a well-established policy, not some "too good to be true" loophole. I feel much better knowing that multiple people have successfully used this strategy. The practical tips have been gold too - calling SSA at 8 AM, being explicit about your desired start date, keeping documentation, and considering the tax implications of lump sum backpay. I hadn't thought about how receiving 6 months of payments at once could affect my tax bracket or potentially trigger IRMAA. I'm definitely going to follow the advice to apply 3-4 months before my 70th birthday next year. Better to have everything processed smoothly than to stress about timing. And I'll make sure to set up my online SSA account first to verify my earnings record. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a complex decision feel manageable!