12 Mar Can I get back benefits from Social Security?

Q. It’s taking Social Security a long time to process my application for retirement benefits. Will I get back pay from the time I applied?
— Retired, finally

A. With all the headlines about cuts to staffing at federal agencies, your question is a timely one.

In general, Social Security will take about six weeks to process an application for retirement benefits, said Claudia Mott, a certified financial planner with Epona Financial Solutions in Basking Ridge.

Applications for disability or survivor benefits can take two to five months to be processed, she said.

But, it can also take longer, which seems to be your experience. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong, but it’s always smart to reach out to the agency to see if you can get an update and to make sure its not missing any important information from your application.

When it comes to retirement benefits, you can receive retroactive benefits, but there are limits, Mott said.

“If you apply for benefits after you’ve reached your full retirement age — 67 for those born after 1960 — you could get up to six months of back payments,” she said. “There are no retroactive benefits when an application is made prior to full retirement age. Payments are made from the application month onward.”

We hope yours is completed and paid out soon.

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This story was originally published in March 2025.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.