Can I get retroactive SSDI benefits from 2016 diagnosis if I just stopped working? Making $110K delayed my claim

Unfortunately I think you've misunderstood what the agent meant. You can't get SSDI for periods you were working above SGA (substantial gainful activity). Since you were making $110k, you were definitely above the SGA limit all those years. The retroactive payments only go back to when you stopped working or dropped below SGA limits.

That SSA agent gave u BAD info!! My brother tried this exact thing and got DENIED because he was over SGA for years after diagnosis. You only get backpay from when you STOPPED working above SGA levels. Maybe 12 months max retro from application date.

Let me clarify how SSDI retroactivity actually works: 1. SSDI can be retroactive up to 12 months prior to your application date, but only for months where you were both disabled AND below SGA. 2. Since you were earning $110,000 yearly until recently, you were well above the SGA limit ($1,470/month for 2025). 3. What the agent likely meant was that your Established Onset Date (EOD) could potentially be set to 2016, which is important for calculating your benefit amount. 4. You'll need to provide medical evidence showing your condition meets the SSA's definition of disability back to your claimed onset date. 5. At 64, you should also consider how SSDI interacts with your retirement benefits. SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at FRA (Full Retirement Age). I'd recommend applying immediately and being very clear about your work history and earnings to avoid confusion during processing.

I went through something similar but with lower income. Here's what happened: when I applied, they used my original diagnosis date to establish my disability began (EDO), but my retroactive payments only started from when I stopped working above SGA. The max retroactive period is 5 months waiting period + 12 months (17 months total) before application date. At your age (64), you should also know that SSDI converts to regular retirement benefits when you hit your FRA. The monthly amount stays the same, but it's processed differently. If your FRA is 66 and 6 months, you don't have much time on SSDI before conversion happens automatically.

Ok HAVE to vent about how frustrating it is to get CORRECT info from SSA!!! ive been calling for TWO WEEKS about my disability review and either get disconnected or wait 2+ hours!! OP your lucky you even got to TALK to someone! They give different answers depending who you talk to anyway

To your follow-up question: Yes, you're exactly right. You can only receive retroactive payments for months where you weren't working above SGA, and only up to 12 months prior to your application date (after the 5-month waiting period). Regarding your work history: Make sure you have all your employment records from 2016 to present. The SSA will verify your work history through earnings records, but bringing detailed documentation to your interview will help avoid delays. Since you earned well over SGA limits ($110,000/year), it's very clear-cut that retroactive benefits would only apply after you stopped working. The 2016 date establishes when your medical condition first met disability criteria, which is different from when you became eligible for payments.

Apply ASAP!! Every day u wait is more money lost!!! My brother waited 3 months after stopping work and lost out on 3 months of payments he couldve gotten!

I'd recommend applying online - it's much faster and you can save your progress if you need to gather more information. Given your proximity to retirement age, your case might be processed more quickly than younger applicants. One important thing to know: since you're 64, if you're approved for SSDI, you'll automatically be converted to retirement benefits at your Full Retirement Age (likely 66 and some months for your birth year). The benefit amount stays the same, but SSDI has certain advantages like Medicare eligibility after 24 months regardless of age. Also, since you had high earnings, your SSDI benefit will likely be close to your maximum retirement benefit. The 2025 maximum SSDI payment is around $3,750 per month for someone with your earnings history.

Thank you all so much for the great advice. I'm going to apply online tomorrow and make sure I'm clear about my work history and when I stopped working. I'll bring both my medical records from 2016 and my detailed employment history to make sure everything is documented properly. I'm also glad to know about the SSDI converting to retirement benefits at my FRA. I was getting confused about how those two programs interact. I'll update this thread once I've submitted my application in case it helps someone else in a similar situation!