I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through the SSA application process for survivor benefits last month. The representatives I spoke with confirmed multiple times that COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of type or claiming age. What really helped me understand this was when they explained that COLA is essentially the government's way of protecting ALL beneficiaries from inflation - it wouldn't make sense to exclude certain groups. I also found it helpful to know that the COLA is announced every October (usually around the 10th-15th) and takes effect the following January. You can actually find the official COLA announcement on the SSA website each year. One tip: once you start receiving benefits, you can sign up for a my Social Security account online to easily track your payments and see when the COLA adjustment gets applied. Hope this helps ease your worries about claiming at 60!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in the Social Security field. Everyone here is absolutely correct - COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of when you claim them or what type they are. I see this confusion come up a lot, and I think it stems from people mixing up the early retirement penalty (which is permanent for retirement benefits) with COLA eligibility (which applies to everyone). The key thing to remember is that COLA is specifically designed to help ALL Social Security recipients maintain their purchasing power against inflation. It would defeat the entire purpose if certain beneficiaries were excluded. You'll receive the same percentage increase as everyone else, applied to whatever your monthly benefit amount is. The fact that your benefit might be reduced for claiming at 60 doesn't change your eligibility for annual COLA adjustments. Best of luck with your application process!

I work at a local SSA field office and can help clarify a few things! When you applied online, there should have been a screen asking about federal tax withholding - if you selected it, it would be in effect for your first payment. However, the mySocialSecurity portal often doesn't display withholding info until after your first payment processes, which is frustrating but normal. For Medicare Part B, if you're enrolled, it will definitely be deducted automatically from your Social Security payment. The 2025 standard premium is $187.50/month for most people. My recommendation: Call 1-800-772-1213 early in the morning (7-8 AM) for shorter wait times. The representative can immediately tell you your exact withholding elections and Medicare deduction amounts. Don't stress too much - even if you didn't set up tax withholding initially, you can add it anytime using Form W-4V or through your online account after your first payment.

I went through this exact same anxiety last year! Here's what I learned: your mySocialSecurity account won't show withholding details until after your first payment processes, which is super annoying when you're trying to plan ahead. I'd definitely recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 early morning (like Kevin mentioned - that 7-8 AM window really works!). When I called, the agent could see all my elections immediately and confirmed I had selected 22% federal tax withholding during my online application, even though I couldn't see it anywhere in my account. One thing that might ease your mind: if you completed the online application and remember getting to a tax withholding screen, you probably did make a selection. The online system is pretty good about not letting you skip required sections. But calling will give you 100% certainty and peace of mind before February arrives!

I went through this exact same confusion when I started my benefits 6 months ago! The waiting period is definitely stressful, but here's what helped me get through it: I called my utility companies, credit card companies, and mortgage lender to explain my situation and ask about changing due dates. Most were surprisingly accommodating - my mortgage company let me switch from the 1st to the 28th of each month, which works much better with the 4th Wednesday SS schedule. Also, if you're really tight on cash for that first gap period, some local senior centers and Area Agencies on Aging have emergency assistance programs specifically for people transitioning to Social Security. It's worth calling to ask - they helped me with my electric bill during that transition month. One last thing - make sure you keep your first benefit statement when it comes! The amount might look different than what your award letter estimated due to Medicare premiums being deducted (if you're enrolled). Don't panic if the numbers don't match exactly at first.

Hey Katherine! I just went through this same situation a few months ago and wanted to share something that really helped me. Beyond adjusting bill due dates (which others have mentioned), I found it useful to create a simple calendar marking when each month's benefit will actually arrive. So your January benefit arrives Feb 26, February benefit arrives March 26, etc. Having it visually mapped out made budgeting so much easier. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you're planning to have taxes withheld from your Social Security (which you can elect to do), that will also reduce your monthly payment amount. You can set this up through your my Social Security account if needed. Just wanted to give you a heads up since it's another factor that might make your actual deposit different from what you're expecting. The first few months are definitely the trickiest as you adjust to the new schedule, but it really does become routine once you get into the rhythm of it. Hang in there!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm actually planning to file for benefits in May 2025 (turning 67 then) and had the exact same concerns about COLA timing. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirm that new beneficiaries automatically get the current year's COLA built into their initial benefit amount. I've been trying to research this for weeks and the SSA website just wasn't clear about it. The fact that your PIA gets updated every January regardless of when you start collecting makes total sense from a fairness perspective - nobody should be penalized for their timing within the year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through this recently. This gives me much more confidence in my retirement planning!

I'm also planning to retire soon and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea that the COLA increases were automatically built into your PIA even before you start collecting. It makes me feel much better about my decision to wait until my FRA instead of filing early. One thing I'm curious about - does this same principle apply to delayed retirement credits? If someone waits until after their FRA to file, do those credits also get adjusted for COLA increases? I know DRCs accrue at 8% per year, but I'm wondering if that percentage gets applied to the COLA-adjusted PIA or the original amount. Thanks again to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences!

does anyone know if the FRA is different for SSI? my cousin gets SSI not regular Social Security and she said theres no FRA for that

I'm in a very similar situation - started collecting at 62 in early 2024 and my FRA is also in December 2025. Reading through all these responses has been really educational! I had the same hope that maybe there would be some kind of increase at FRA, but now I understand that's not how it works. The one thing that gives me some comfort is knowing that if I keep working (even part-time), there's still potential for small increases if my current earnings replace some of my lower earning years from the past. Plus the annual COLA adjustments help with inflation. For anyone else reading this who hasn't filed yet - definitely consider waiting if you can afford to. The permanent reduction is no joke. But for those of us who already filed early, at least we know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. This community is so helpful!