Ask Larry

Can I Get Benefits For Past Years When I Was 59 To 62?

I started collecting on ex husbands as. He was 100 % disabled for 30 + years while we were married. He is now deceased. I was told since he was disables that I could of started at age 59. I am now 67. Can I get the time from age 59 to 62 back played ?

Hi,

The answer to your question is no. You must file an application in order to qualify for benefits, and if you filed now you couldn't claim benefits retroactively for more than 6 months.

That said, though, it's unclear from the information in your question whether or not you actually missed out on any benefits. The earliest you can be paid survivor benefits on a deceased ex's record is at age 60, or age 50 if you're disabled. If your ex was receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits prior to his death, the earliest that you could have been paid divorced spousal benefits was when you reached age 62.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Apr 28 2020 - 10:27am
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