Can Social Security pay 6 months retroactive benefits when filing at age 70 and 6 months?
Hi everyone, I just turned 70 and a half last month and FINALLY got around to applying for my SS retirement. My neighbor said I'd get 6 months of back payments automatically since I'm past 70. Is that actually true? The SSA rep I talked to seemed confused when I asked about it. I thought backpay only happened if you filed before your FRA? I've been working part-time so I wasn't in a rush to file, but I definitely don't want to leave money on the table if I'm owed those 6 months! Anyone gone through this process lately?
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Yuki Ito
Yes, this is accurate. Social Security will pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits - but only for months where you were already eligible. Since benefits max out at age 70, and you're now 70 and 6 months, you should be eligible for those 6 months of retroactive payments at the age 70 benefit amount. The SSA rep may have been confused because retroactive benefits work differently for people filing before Full Retirement Age. Make sure this is clearly documented in your application!
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Ethan Taylor
•That's a relief! I was starting to think my neighbor was mixing things up again. Do I need to specifically request these retroactive payments or is it automatic when they process my application?
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Carmen Lopez
When I applied at 70 and 3 months last year, I automatically received 3 months of backpay without asking. The payment showed up about a week after my application was approved. Since you're applying at 70 and 6 months, you SHOULD get the full 6 months of retroactive benefits that SS allows. If the SSA rep seemed confused, maybe ask to speak with a different representative?
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Ethan Taylor
•Thank you! That's really helpful to know it was automatic for you. Maybe the rep was new? I'll definitely follow up if I don't see the backpay after approval.
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Andre Dupont
my cousin waited until he was 71 to apply and they only gave him 6 months back, not the full year he missed. so yeah theres definitely a 6 month limit, thats just how ssa works
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QuantumQuasar
•Same thing happened to my brother-in-law! He waited until 70+8 months and only got 6 months back. He was FURIOUS because nobody told him there was a time limit. Lost out on thousands of dollars.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
I've been trying to reach someone at SSA for THREE WEEKS about my own retroactive payment issue (filed at exactly 70). They keep saying 2-hour wait times and then hanging up on me! Does anyone know if there's a way to actually get through to a human being without wasting your entire day??? So frustrating!!
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Jamal Wilson
•I had the same problem last month trying to sort out my wife's survivor benefits. After getting disconnected four times, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through. They got me connected to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual endless wait. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it saved me hours of frustration. Totally worth it when you need to resolve something time-sensitive like retroactive payments.
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Mei Lin
The 6-month retroactive benefit rule is consistent across different Social Security benefit types, but it's important to understand some nuances: 1. For retirement benefits claimed AFTER Full Retirement Age (FRA), you can receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, but not earlier than your FRA. 2. For retirement benefits claimed AT Full Retirement Age, you can receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, but not before age 62. 3. For retirement benefits claimed BEFORE Full Retirement Age, there are NO retroactive benefits. Early filing is always prospective. 4. For disability benefits, you can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits (different rule). Since you're applying at 70½, you should automatically receive 6 months of retroactive benefits at your age 70 benefit amount (the maximum). The SSA representative should have known this, as it's standard procedure for post-70 claims.
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Ethan Taylor
•Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I didn't realize the rules were different depending on when you file. Makes me feel better about delaying my application since at least I'll get some of those missed payments back.
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QuantumQuasar
When I filed at 70 last year the backpay came separately from my regular monthly benefits. Took almost 4 weeks after my application was approved to get the lump sum. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you don't panic if you don't see it right away!
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Ethan Taylor
•Good to know! I'll try to be patient once everything's approved. Did they notify you about the backpay or did it just show up in your account?
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Andre Dupont
does anyone know if they tax the backpay different? getting 6 months all at once seems like it would push me into higher bracket
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Mei Lin
•The lump sum retroactive payment is treated as income for the year you receive it, which could potentially push you into a higher tax bracket. However, there is an optional method called the "lump-sum election" that might help. This allows you to calculate the tax as if you had received the payments in the prior year they were actually for. You might want to consult with a tax professional when filing taxes for the year you receive the retroactive benefits.
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Carmen Lopez
Make sure when you get your award letter that it clearly shows the retroactive period! My husband's initial letter didn't mention his backpay at all and we had to call to get it corrected. Once they fixed it in their system, the payment arrived within days. Also, be prepared that the backpay comes as a separate deposit from your regular monthly benefit. And definitely check the mySSA portal online regularly - sometimes it shows updates before you get official mail.
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Ethan Taylor
•Thanks for the tip about checking the award letter carefully! I'll definitely make sure the retroactive period is listed correctly. I've set up my mySSA account already so I'll keep an eye on that too.
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