I just don’t get people’s fascination with retroactive Social Security retirement benefits. I can understand that on the surface, the idea of getting a big retroactive check from the government might sound like a financial windfall. But when you think it through, or at least when I do, it just doesn’t make much sense.
Before I get to today’s questions, all of which concern claiming retroactive benefits, I must make a general point about the issue. The law says you can claim up to six months’ worth of retroactive benefits, as long as it doesn’t involve the payment of any reduced Social Security benefits. Or to put that another way, no retroactive retirement benefits can be paid prior to your full retirement age. It’s a different story when it comes to disability benefits. But today, I’m sticking with the retirement program.
