I postponed retiring until age 67 in 8/16 - SS incorrectly calculated I was to received benefits based on the age of 66 1/2. When I finally got the age issue straighten out I was told I would receive retro benefits for the delayed retirement.
Today I am being told I am owed retro benefits from January 2017 instead of back to Aug 2016 when they made the wrong age calculation. What can I do to get the retro benefit amount for 2016 paid to me?

Hi,

I don't know the details of your case, but when you file for benefits between full retirement age (FRA) and age 70, you are initially only due the delayed retirement credits (DRC) that you've earned through December of the year preceding your month of entitlement.

Thus, if your month of entitlement was August 2016, your initial benefit rate would only include any DRCs earned through December 2015. You would then be due a re-computation effective January 2017, at which point your benefit rate would be recalculated to add your DRCs for the months January 2016 through July 2016. However, the higher benefit rate would apply effective January 2017, not August 2016, so no back pay would be due for the months August 2016 through December 2016.

By the way, these types of re-computations are automated, and my understanding is that they are only processed every other year due to budget limitations.

Best, Jerry