Can I collect 6 months of Social Security back pay if I wait until 70 and a half to file?
I'm turning 70 in June 2025 and trying to maximize my Social Security benefits. Someone at my retirement planning group mentioned a strategy I hadn't heard before - they said if I wait until I'm 70 and 6 months old to apply, I can request my start date to be retroactive to my birth month and collect 6 months of "back pay" while still getting my maximum benefit amount going forward. This sounds too good to be true! I thought the delayed retirement credits stopped accruing at age 70, but can I really wait another 6 months after that and still get those months of payments I missed? Has anyone actually done this successfully? Just trying to make sure I don't mess up this one-time decision.
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Liam O'Sullivan
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.
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Mei Liu
•That's really helpful to know, thanks! Did you have to specifically request the retroactive payment or did they just automatically calculate it?
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Amara Chukwu
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.
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Mei Liu
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! So there's actually no advantage to waiting beyond 70 - I'd just be delaying getting money I'm entitled to. That makes sense. I'll plan to apply a few months before my 70th birthday in June 2025.
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Giovanni Conti
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
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Amara Chukwu
•You're correct that SSA limits retroactive payments to 6 months maximum after age 70. However, this isn't the government "stealing" money - it's a well-documented policy that's been in place for years. This is precisely why it's important to file for benefits at the appropriate time. No one should wait beyond 70 to file unless they're comfortable potentially losing months of payments.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
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!
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NeonNova
•Thanks for sharing that service! I've been trying to reach SS for weeks about my wife's application. Just watched the video and will try it tomorrow.
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Dylan Campbell
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!
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Sofia Hernandez
•Good point about taxes. Yes, Social Security backpay comes as a lump sum, which can push you into a higher tax bracket for that year if you're not prepared. There is a special tax calculation called "lump sum election" you can use (see IRS Publication 915) that might help reduce the tax impact. Essentially, it allows you to calculate the tax as if you received the benefits in the year they were actually due, potentially lowering your overall tax burden. I'd recommend consulting with a tax professional before filing your return in a year you receive SS backpay.
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Mei Liu
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!
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Amara Chukwu
•That's exactly right! You've got a good plan now. One final tip: when you do apply, print and save a copy of your application confirmation. I've seen cases where applications get lost in the system, and having proof of your filing date can help resolve issues more quickly if they arise.
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