Social Security benefits after age 70 - any retroactive payments for delayed filing?

Yes! Social Security has a 6-month retroactive payment policy for people filing after FRA (Full Retirement Age). Since you're talking about filing after 70, you would be eligible for a lump sum payment covering up to 6 months of missed benefits. They won't go back all the way to your 70th birthday if you wait years though - maximum is 6 months. File ASAP after 70 to avoid permanently losing benefits!

why would anyone wait past 70?? benefits max out then! your throwing money away every month you dont file after 70!!!

I went through this exact situation with my husband last year. He didn't file until he was 70 and a half because he thought the process would be complicated. When we finally did file, Social Security gave him a lump sum payment for 6 months (the maximum they'll go back). The SSA representative told us directly that they never go back more than 6 months after age 70, so don't delay filing! The good news is the lump sum payment was nice to receive all at once.

The six-month limitation on retroactive benefits applies even after age 70. Here's the official policy: if you delay filing beyond age 70, SSA will only pay retroactive benefits for up to 6 months from the date you actually apply. This is why it's critical to file right at age 70. For example: If you turn 70 in January 2025 but don't apply until January 2026, you'll only receive retroactive benefits back to July 2025, permanently losing 6 months of benefits (January-June 2025). This is different from taking retroactive benefits when filing between your FRA and age 70, which is generally not advisable since it means forfeiting delayed retirement credits.

To add to what others have said - absolutely file no later than 6 months after turning 70! The 6-month retroactive payment is the maximum SSA will provide, and any benefits before that are permanently lost. This is one of the most costly mistakes I see people make with Social Security. The reason this happens is that Social Security benefits NEVER start automatically - you must apply for them. And unfortunately, SSA doesn't do a great job of notifying people about this important deadline. If you're already past 70, file immediately to minimize losses. You'll need your birth certificate, Social Security card, and recent tax returns when you apply.

I always recommend people apply online through the SSA website (ssa.gov) about 3 months before they want benefits to start. It's generally the fastest and most efficient method. However, if you're already past 70 or have a complex situation, getting actual help from an SSA representative might be better. UNFORTUNATELY, reaching SSA by phone can be extremely frustrating - hours of wait times, disconnected calls, etc. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to an SSA agent quickly. They have a good demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Might be worth considering if you need to speak with someone at SSA about your specific situation regarding retroactive benefits. They could confirm exactly how the 6-month lookback would apply in your case.

my uncle didnt file until 72 and was SOOO mad when he found out he lost over a year of benefits!! he tried to argue with them but they wouldnt budge on the 6 month rule. dont make his mistake!!

Just wanted to add that when I finally got through to Social Security about my retroactive benefits (took 3 tries and hours on hold), the agent was actually very helpful. She explained that the 6-month limit is written into the Social Security Act itself, so there's no flexibility. She processed my backpay for the 6 months and I received it as a separate deposit about 3 weeks after my application was approved. Then my regular monthly benefits started the following month.

Regarding the tax question someone asked - yes, receiving a lump sum of 6 months of retroactive benefits can potentially push you into a higher tax bracket for that year. Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income. However, the IRS does have a special calculation method (lump-sum election) that might help reduce the tax impact. You may want to consult with a tax professional in the year you receive retroactive benefits. For the original question about applying: given that you're approaching 70, I recommend setting a calendar reminder 3 months before your 70th birthday to begin the application process online. This gives SSA time to process your application so payments can begin promptly at age 70.

Great thread everyone! As someone who just went through this process at 70, I can confirm everything that's been said about the 6-month retroactive limit. I'd like to add one important tip: when you apply online at ssa.gov, make sure to save/print confirmation of your application date. The SSA uses your application date (not approval date) to calculate the 6-month retroactive period. Also, if you're married, don't forget that your spouse may be eligible for spousal benefits once you start receiving your benefits - but they'll need to apply separately. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first payment for me.

This is such valuable information! I'm approaching 65 and had always assumed Social Security would just automatically start when I'm ready. Reading about people losing thousands of dollars because they didn't know about the 6-month limit is really alarming. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and share it with my retirement planning group. It seems like the SSA should do a much better job of educating people about this - losing benefits permanently just because you didn't know you had to apply seems really unfair to retirees who have paid into the system their whole lives. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

This entire discussion has been a real wake-up call for me! I'm currently 68 and had been planning to wait until 72 to claim benefits, thinking I'd maximize my monthly payments. But after reading all these experiences about the 6-month retroactive limit, I'm completely reconsidering my strategy. The idea of permanently losing benefits after age 70 is terrifying - especially hearing about people losing $30,000+ like Millie mentioned with her client. I think I need to revise my retirement timeline and make sure I apply right at 70, not after. Does anyone know if there are other "gotchas" like this in the Social Security system that aren't well publicized? This thread has made me realize I probably don't know nearly enough about how all this actually works!

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone who's just starting to research Social Security options (I'm 63), I had no idea about the 6-month retroactive payment limit after age 70. Reading all these real experiences has been incredibly valuable - especially the stories about people permanently losing thousands of dollars just because they didn't know they had to actively apply for benefits. It's really concerning that something this important isn't more widely communicated by the SSA. I'm definitely going to mark my calendar to apply well before I turn 70, and I'll be sharing this information with friends and family who are also approaching retirement age. Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences - you're potentially saving people from making very costly mistakes!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! As someone completely new to Social Security planning (I'm 61), I had absolutely no idea that benefits don't start automatically or that there's such a strict 6-month limit on retroactive payments after age 70. Reading about people permanently losing $30,000+ in benefits they'll never recover is honestly terrifying. I always assumed the government would just handle these things automatically when you reach retirement age - clearly I was very wrong! This discussion has made me realize I need to get serious about understanding Social Security rules NOW, not later. I'm definitely going to set calendar reminders to apply right at age 70 and will be sharing this crucial information with my spouse and friends. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences - you're potentially saving newcomers like me from making extremely costly mistakes!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and honestly thought Social Security was something the government would just "figure out" for me when the time came. Reading about the 6-month retroactive limit and people losing $30,000+ has completely changed my perspective. I had no idea you actually have to apply and that timing is so critical! The stories shared here are worth their weight in gold - real experiences from people who've navigated this system. I'm already planning to apply online right at 70 and will definitely be saving my application confirmation as someone mentioned. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical information that should be taught in pre-retirement seminars but unfortunately isn't widely available. You've potentially saved me from making a very expensive mistake!

This has been such an educational thread! As someone who's 66 and still working, I had been planning to delay filing until 72 to maximize my benefits. But after reading all these real experiences about permanently losing benefits after age 70 due to the 6-month retroactive limit, I'm definitely changing my strategy. The stories about people losing $30,000+ are honestly heartbreaking - especially when it's just due to not knowing you have to actively apply! I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips shared here, like applying online 3 months before turning 70 and saving the application confirmation. It's shocking that such crucial information isn't more widely publicized by the SSA. I'll be sharing this thread with my retirement planning group and setting up those calendar reminders right now. Thank you everyone for potentially saving me from making a very costly mistake!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who's 62 and just starting to seriously think about Social Security timing, I had no clue that benefits don't start automatically or that there's such a harsh 6-month limit on retroactive payments after 70. Reading all these real experiences - especially about people permanently losing $30,000+ - has completely opened my eyes to how critical proper timing is. I was actually leaning toward waiting until 72, thinking I'd maximize my benefits, but now I understand that's a terrible financial mistake! The practical advice here about applying online 3 months before turning 70 and saving application confirmation is gold. It's honestly shocking that the SSA doesn't do a better job educating people about these rules - seems like they're setting retirees up to lose money they've earned. I'm definitely setting calendar reminders now and will be sharing this thread with my spouse and friends approaching retirement. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and potentially saving newcomers like me from making very costly errors!

This thread has been absolutely essential reading! I'm 63 and completely new to Social Security planning - honestly, I always assumed it would just "kick in" automatically when I retired. Reading about people permanently losing $30,000+ because they didn't know about the 6-month retroactive limit is genuinely shocking. I had been casually thinking about waiting until 72 to file, assuming that would maximize everything, but now I realize that would be a catastrophic financial mistake! The real-world experiences shared here are so much more valuable than anything I've found on the official SSA website. I'm immediately setting up calendar reminders to apply right at 70, and I'll definitely be using the online application with the tip about saving confirmation. It's honestly disturbing that such critical information isn't clearly communicated by the SSA - how many retirees are unknowingly losing benefits they've earned? Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and potentially saving newcomers like me from making life-changing financial errors. I'll be sharing this thread with my entire family!

As someone who's 67 and had been planning to wait until 71 to file (thinking I was being smart about maximizing benefits), this entire thread has been a massive wake-up call! I honestly had no idea that Social Security benefits don't start automatically or that there's such a strict 6-month limit on retroactive payments after age 70. Reading about people permanently losing $30,000+ in benefits they'll never recover is absolutely terrifying - and infuriating that the SSA doesn't make this crystal clear to everyone approaching retirement. I was completely under the impression that delaying past 70 would continue to increase my benefits somehow, but now I understand I would have been throwing money away every single month past my 70th birthday. The real experiences shared here - like KaiEsmeralda's husband getting only 6 months back despite waiting until 70.5, and Millie's client losing over $30K by waiting until 73 - are worth more than any official government pamphlet. I'm immediately revising my retirement timeline to file right at 70 and will be applying online 3 months beforehand as recommended. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - you've literally saved me from making what could have been a $50,000+ mistake over the years I was planning to delay! I'll definitely be sharing this thread with my retirement planning group because this information is too important to keep to ourselves.

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening for someone like me who's just starting to research Social Security! I'm 61 and honestly had no idea that benefits don't automatically start or that there's such a strict 6-month retroactive limit after age 70. Reading all these real experiences about people permanently losing $30,000+ is both shocking and really important information that clearly isn't being communicated well by the SSA. I was actually considering waiting until 71 or 72 to maximize my benefits, but now I understand that would be a huge financial mistake! The practical tips shared here - like applying online 3 months before turning 70, saving the application confirmation, and the recommendation about Claimyr for getting through to SSA - are incredibly valuable. It's really concerning that so many people are discovering these critical details through community discussions rather than clear government outreach. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - you're potentially saving newcomers like me from making very costly errors. I'll definitely be setting calendar reminders to file right at 70 and sharing this information with my spouse and friends approaching retirement!