Can my husband backdate SS retirement application 6 months after FRA? Medicare premium confusion

Yes, your husband can apply online - it's actually easier than scheduling a phone appointment. And you're absolutely right to be concerned about the Medicare premium issue. SSA can backdate retirement benefits up to 6 months after FRA, but they will deduct those Medicare premiums from the lump sum payment even if you've already paid them separately. You'll need to request a Medicare premium refund for the months you paid out of pocket - it doesn't happen automatically. The process is a bit tedious but worth it.

why wait til August tho? just apply in Feb when he hits FRA

Here's exactly what you need to know: 1. Online application is best - he can do it at socialsecurity.gov without a phone appointment 2. Yes, after FRA, benefits can be retroactively paid up to 6 months (but not earlier than FRA) 3. Medicare premium handling is tricky: SSA will automatically withhold premiums for those retroactive months, creating a double-payment situation 4. You'll need to apply for a Medicare premium refund with Form SSA-1099 (or the quarterly receipt you received) 5. Important: when applying, have your husband specifically note that he's been paying Medicare premiums separately - this helps flag the potential double payment issue The online application takes about 30 minutes if you have all his information ready.

When I tried to apply online after my FRA it kept crashing and I couldn't get through to anyone at SSA for WEEKS!!! Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in less than 5 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU With the agent's help I was able to get my back payments sorted out AND they helped me fix the Medicare premium double-payment issue right on the call. Saved me tons of headaches!

BE CAREFUL with backdating!!! My friend took the 6 month lump sum after her FRA and REGRETTED it because it permanently REDUCED her monthly benefit amount going forward!!! When you backdate, they calculate your benefit as if you started at the earlier date, not your current age!!!

We just did this last year. Applied 4 months after my husbands FRA, got backpay but then spent MONTHS trying to get the Medicare premium refund. Keep all your receipts showing you paid quarterly! And yes you can do it all online, much faster.

Another thing to consider is taxes - a lump sum payment for 6 months might bump you into a higher tax bracket for that year. You might want to talk to a tax professional before making the decision. Sometimes it's better to just start benefits when you're ready without the backpay.

My husband and I went through this exact same situation last year. Filed 5 months after his FRA and requested backdating. The Medicare premium refund was a complete nightmare - Social Security and Medicare kept pointing fingers at each other saying the other agency needed to handle it. We finally got it sorted, but it took calling SSA multiple times. Just be persistent!