Hi Larry, as a single person can I file and suspend at 66, and then at a later date (68 for instance) un-suspend and ask for a lump-sum back payment on the 24 months from 66 to 68? I've read that if I did this, I could not request any back payment. Instead, I've also read that if don't apply for SSA at 66 and then apply at 69 (for instance) I can only request up to six months of back payments. I've read many conflicting comments on this. Thanks for any clarity you can provide.

Hi,

No, only people who voluntarily suspended their benefits prior to April 30 2016 are able to later revoke the suspension retroactively and claim back pay (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/suspendfaq.html).

If you voluntarily suspend your benefits after April 29 2016, the earliest that you can reinstate your benefits is effective with the month after the month you submit your request. In other words, no back pay. On the other hand, if you simply delay filing for your benefits until at least 6 months after you've reached full retirement age (FRA), you could claim benefits for up to 6 months retroactively from the month of your application. If you did so, Social Security would normally pay your back pay for those 6 months in a lump sum.

Best, Jerry