Larry, my wife is slightly older than me. She filed for SS benefits upon reaching her FRA. I chose to wait until I reach 70. Now I realize that I could have made a restricted filing for spousal benefits back when I reached FRA and such would have still allowed my own benefits to increase until I was 70. Can I now retroactively make a restricted filing for spousal benefits and get a lump some payment?

Hi,

The maximum retroactivity allowed for that type of claim is 6 months, so if you reached your full retirement age (FRA) more than 6 months ago you wouldn't be able to claim benefits all the way back to your FRA. However, you can still file a restricted claim for spousal benefits now and claim up to 6 months of back pay.

You don't mention your current age or date of birth, but It sounds like you should probably contact Social Security as soon as possible to either apply for spousal benefits or to at least make an appointment to file a claim. Making an appointment with Social Security establishes a protective filing date, which should prevent you from any further possible loss of benefits. You may also want to strongly consider using our software to analyze your options so that you can choose the best possible option for claiming your benefits.

Best, Jerry