If a person misses filing at age 70 by a couple months, can they still file for the 6 months of retroactive benefits? Local SSA office is saying it is illegal to pay retroactive benefits after reaching age 70.

Hi,

Yes. If a person hasn't yet filed for their benefits and they are past age 70, they can still claim benefits retroactively for up to 6 months prior to their month of filing (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200204030).

However, if a person previously filed for their benefits and then voluntarily suspended them after April 29 2016, they can't reinstate their payments any earlier than effective with the month after the month that they request reinstatement. If a person's benefits are in suspense when they reach age 70, Social Security automatically reinstates their benefits effective with the month they reach age 70. Such a person could not subsequently request to have their benefits reinstated for any months prior to the month that they reached age 70.

Best, Jerry