Can I get 6 months backpay when switching from survivor benefits to my own SS at age 70?

Yes, you can absolutely request retroactive benefits when switching from survivors to your own retirement benefits after age 70. SSA allows for up to 6 months of retroactive benefits in this scenario. Just make sure when you apply that you specifically request the retroactive start date from when you turned 70. They'll calculate the difference between what you received as survivor benefits and what you should have received on your own record for those months, and pay you the difference in a lump sum.

CAREFUL HERE!! I went through something similar and what they don't tell you is that if you waited until 70 to maximize your delayed retirement credits, you MUST specify an effective date that doesn't lose those credits!!! The SSA rep I dealt with initially tried to make my retroactive benefits go back a full 12 months which would have REDUCED my monthly benefit amount!!! Make absolutely SURE your application says January 2025 as the start date, not anything earlier!!!!

my brother tried this but they denied his backpay because he didnt ask for it at the right time during the application or something... make sure you fill out the right form and check the box for retroactive benefits cause ssa doesnt volunteer these things

Just wanted to share my experience switching from widow's benefits to my own retirement benefit last year. Yes, you can get the retroactive pay for up to 6 months after reaching 70, but be prepared for a potentially long processing time. When I applied, I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone for weeks. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live SSA agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got through, the agent helped me properly request my retroactive benefits and made sure everything was documented correctly. Without that help, I might still be waiting on hold! The retroactive payment took about 8 weeks to process after my application was approved.

I think your neighbor is right about this. My cousin got 6 months backpay when she switched from widow benefits to her own SS at 70 last year. But make sure you tell them right away that's what you want!!

I dont understand why you'd wait until 6 months AFTER turning 70 to apply?? There's NO benefit increase after 70 so you're just losing money every month you delay past 70. Apply IN JANUARY when you turn 70!!! Don't wait until June!!!

One more thing to be aware of - when you get the retroactive payment, it will be counted as income for the tax year in which you receive it, not the months it covers. So if you apply in January 2025 and receive the backpay in March 2025, it counts as 2025 income. But if you wait until June 2025 to apply and get the payment in August 2025, it's still 2025 income. This lump sum might affect your Medicare IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) premium two years later. There is a provision called the Life-Changing Event form (SSA-44) you can file if this one-time income increase would cause your Medicare premiums to spike.

Just to be really clear here since there's some confusion in the comments: Yes, Social Security will pay you the difference between the survivor benefit you received and what your own retirement benefit would have been for those months. However, retroactive benefits for retirement are limited to 6 months from the date of application, and cannot begin before you reach age 70 in your case (since you want the maximum delayed retirement credits).

wait i'm confused now. are you still working at 70? cuz if you are that can mess up your benefits depending on how much you make

So sorry about your husband passing away so young. My sister has survivor benefits too and she said the SSA office people were really helpful explaining all her options when she turned 70. Hope everything works out for you!

Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like you have a solid plan! Just to summarize the key points from everyone's advice: Yes, you can get up to 6 months retroactive benefits when switching from survivor to retirement benefits at 70. Apply in January 2025 (don't wait until June), specify January 2025 as your effective date to preserve your delayed retirement credits, and be prepared for the lump sum backpay to count as 2025 income for tax purposes. The consensus seems to be that SSA will pay you the difference between what you received in survivor benefits vs. what your retirement benefit should have been for those months. Good luck with your application and your dental work!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you'll want to keep detailed records of all your survivor benefit payments leading up to January 2025. When SSA calculates your retroactive payment, they'll need to verify exactly what you received each month to determine the correct difference. I'd recommend downloading your Social Security statements and keeping copies of your benefit deposit records. Also, if you have any questions during the application process, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to walk through the calculation with you step by step - they should be able to show you exactly how they're determining your retroactive amount. Having everything documented will help ensure you get the full amount you're entitled to and can help resolve any discrepancies quickly.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - when you apply in January, make sure to ask the SSA representative about any potential Medicare Part B premium adjustments. Since your monthly Social Security benefit will increase by $1,400, this could affect your Medicare premiums if you're already enrolled or planning to enroll soon. The income increase might push you into a higher IRMAA bracket, but since you're switching from survivor benefits to your own earned benefits (rather than getting a windfall), there may be ways to address this. It's worth asking about during your application appointment so you're not surprised by any premium changes later.