Getting SS retroactive benefits after FRA - anyone receive backpay faster than 90 days?

I went through this exact situation with my own benefits last year. I was 8 months past FRA when I applied and forgot to check the retroactive box. Called SSA and got it fixed, but it took 74 days for the backpay to arrive. They did withhold 10% for federal taxes (which wasn't enough, by the way). The main downside is that getting retroactive benefits means you're essentially 'filing' 6 months earlier, which can slightly reduce your monthly benefit compared to if you just took the delayed retirement credits. But if you need the money now, it's usually worth it.

my brother got his backpay in like 6 weeks. just showed up in his account no warning. they took taxes out but not sure how much, he said it was less than he expected tho

Be CAREFUL about this backpay!!! My husband did the same thing and when we got the lump sum it pushed us into a higher tax bracket for that year. Cost us thousands in taxes we weren't expecting!!! Also it affected our IRMAA for Medicare two years later - that's the income-related monthly adjustment amount. SS looks at your tax returns from 2 years ago to decide your Medicare Part B premiums. We got a NASTY surprise when our premiums jumped up because of that one-time payment. Make sure you're prepared for BOTH these issues!!!

I recently went through this with a retroactive SSDI claim (different from retirement but similar backpay process). The 30-90 day timeframe is unfortunately accurate. Mine took exactly 58 days. One thing that helped was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an SSA representative to check on status. Saved me hours of waiting on hold and getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Regarding taxes - yes, they'll withhold federal taxes if you've requested withholding on your application, but it's only 10% which isn't enough for most people. You can request additional withholding by submitting Form W-4V.

As someone who worked for SSA for 15 years (retired now), I can tell you that the retroactive benefit processing time really depends on the workload at your specific processing center. Some are faster than others. The 6-month limitation for retroactive benefits only applies to retirement claims filed after full retirement age - so your wife's situation is textbook eligible. Regarding taxes: SSA will only withhold at the rates you've authorized on your application (usually 0%, 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%). Many retirees don't withhold enough, especially for large lump sums. The main downsides to consider: 1. Tax implications (as others mentioned) 2. IRMAA Medicare premium increases 2 years later 3. Potential impact on any means-tested benefits if applicable 4. Slightly reduced monthly benefit (compared to not taking retroactive and getting those delayed retirement credits) If you're concerned about the processing time, you can request an "expedited critical case" consideration if you have immediate financial need, though these are granted sparingly.

congrats on the windfall! we got retroactive too but only 3 months worth since my wife filed right after her 66th bday. no idea why some get 6 and others get less??

I'm still waiting for mine after 85 DAYS!!! Every time I call they just tell me "it's still processing" and can't give me ANY information. It's absolutely INFURIATING!!!!

whats FRA mean?

Update: We called SSA again today and got some clarification. The representative said our request is still in the queue but estimated it would be about 6-8 weeks total. He also confirmed they'll withhold taxes at the rate my wife specified on her original application (which was 12%). Still concerned about the potential IRMAA impact, but we'll deal with that when the time comes. Thanks everyone for your helpful responses!