Can I get 12 months retroactive WEP and 6 months retroactive spousal benefits at the same time?

Yes, you can potentially receive both retroactive benefits, but there are important details to understand. Since you're beyond your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you're eligible for up to 12 months of retroactive benefits on your own record. For spousal benefits, the same 12-month retroactive rule generally applies if you're beyond FRA. However, your spousal benefit amount will be affected by both the WEP reduction to your own benefit and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) if applicable. When you apply, make sure you specifically request both retroactive payments - they don't automatically give you the maximum retroactive benefits unless you ask.

my wife got 12 months back pay for both her retirement and spousal but that was back in 2023 so maybe the rules changed? the ss office is always changing stuff without telling anyone lol

Be VERY careful with the WEP calculation! When I filed last year, they didn't apply it correctly at first and I ended up with an overpayment notice six months later demanding $7,200 back!!! The SSA doesn't always get this right the first time, especially if you have a state pension. MAKE SURE they have all your pension information when you file, and get the name of every person you talk to. I had to fight for months to get it fixed. And yes, you can get retroactive payments for both, but they'll calculate them together, not separately.

I think the 6 month vs 12 month thing depends on whether your wife's benefit is higher than yours after the WEP reduction. If you're filing for spousal benefits first, it might be different than if you're filing for your own retirement first. At least that's what the agent told me, but honestly they gave me conflicting info every time I called.

If you're frustrated trying to reach someone at Social Security who actually understands WEP and retroactive benefits (which is complicated!), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was trying for weeks to get through to SSA about my WEP situation and kept getting disconnected. Used their service at claimyr.com and got through to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth it for complex situations like yours where you need to speak to someone who can actually look at your specific records and pension information.

When I filed with WEP last year i got all 12 months retroactive no problem but i didn't have any spousal benefits just my own. Good luck dealing with SS! bring lots of patience lol

To address your follow-up question - yes, the WEP reduction will apply to all retroactive payments. And you absolutely need to specifically request retroactive benefits when you apply - they don't automatically give you retroactive benefits even if you're eligible. Regarding the 6 vs. 12 months confusion: The law allows up to 12 months retroactive for retirement and spousal benefits when you're past FRA. However, spousal benefits cannot begin before your spouse started receiving their benefits. So if your wife only started her benefits 6 months ago (which doesn't appear to be your case), that would limit your spousal retroactive period. Given that your wife has been collecting for 3 years, you should be eligible for the full 12 months retroactive on both benefits.

watch out for taxes too!! my friend got a big retroactive payment and it pushed him into a higher tax bracket that year and he wasnt ready for the big tax bill!!