A claimant may choose to restrict any retroactive benefits. If a claimant does not
wish to receive retroactive benefits, we must honor their decision.
EXAMPLE: John files for retirement benefits 11 months after he reached full retirement age.
Based on the retroactivity rules, he can receive 6 months of retroactivity payments
from the date he files. However, John restricts the retroactivity of the application
to their date of filing in order to receive delayed retirement credits.
EXCEPTION: A claimant filing or receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cannot restrict
retroactivity. For more information on the SSI requirement to file for other benefits,
see SI 00510.001D.1.a.