Do Social Security spousal benefits include COLAs between FRA and when I file?
I'm confused about how COLA adjustments work with spousal benefits. My husband started claiming his Social Security at 66 (his FRA) back in 2020. I'm turning 67 next month (my FRA is 66 and 8 months) and planning to file for spousal benefits. I know I should get 50% of his primary insurance amount, but I'm not sure if I'll also receive the COLAs that have been applied to his benefit since 2020. Do the annual cost-of-living adjustments get added to my spousal benefit calculation, or am I just getting half of his original amount from 5 years ago? This makes a big difference in my planning since there have been several significant COLAs in recent years!
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Hassan Khoury
Yes, you will receive 50% of your husband's PIA plus all the COLAs that have been applied since he reached his full retirement age. The Social Security Administration adjusts all benefits annually with COLAs, including spousal benefits. Your benefit will reflect half of his current benefit amount, not the original amount from 2020.
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Alice Fleming
•Thank you! That's a relief. So when they calculate my benefit, they'll start with half of his current amount that includes all those COLAs? I was worried they'd start with half of what his benefit was back in 2020 and I'd miss out on all those adjustments.
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Victoria Stark
my wife got spousal last yr and she got the COLAs too. its automatic they add it for everyone
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Alice Fleming
•That's good to hear from someone with recent experience. Did she have to request anything special or did SSA just calculate everything correctly from the start?
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Benjamin Kim
This topic confuses me so much!! I thought spousal benefits were frozen at whatever the worker's benefit was when they first filed? That's what happened to my sister-in-law I think. Or maybe I'm mixing up spousal and survivor benefits again? UGH why does the SSA make everything so complicated??!!
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Hassan Khoury
•You might be thinking of the special rule for divorced spouse benefits, where you can claim even if your ex hasn't filed yet (if divorced 2+ years). In that case, there are some different calculations. For current spouses, the benefit includes all COLAs. And survivor benefits are 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit including COLAs, not 50% like spousal benefits.
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Samantha Howard
I spent 3 WEEKS trying to get this exact question answered when I was filing for my spousal benefits last year! Called SSA every day and could never get through. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed that yes, spousal benefits include all the COLAs since your spouse first filed. Saved me so much stress and finally got a clear answer.
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Megan D'Acosta
•never heard of that service before. does it actually work? i hate waiting on hold forever just to get disconnected
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Samantha Howard
•Worked for me! I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for weeks. Got connected to an actual SSA agent who answered all my questions about the COLA calculations for spousal benefits.
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Sarah Ali
To clarify exactly how this works: Your spousal benefit at Full Retirement Age is equal to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit amount he was entitled to at his FRA. This base calculation is then increased by all COLAs that occurred between when he became entitled and when you claim. For example, if your husband's PIA was $2,000 in 2020, and there has been a cumulative 15% in COLAs since then, your spousal benefit would be 50% of $2,000 = $1,000, plus 15% COLA = $1,150. Important note: If you had claimed before your FRA, your benefit would be permanently reduced for early filing, and then COLAs would be applied to that reduced amount.
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Alice Fleming
•This explanation is so helpful! I think I understand now. Since I'm past my FRA already, I'll get the full 50% plus all the COLAs. That's going to make a nice difference in my monthly amount.
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Ryan Vasquez
My husband died last year and I'm getting survivor benefits. Is that the same thing as spousal benefits? Do I get the COLAs too? Sorry if this is off-topic but your situation reminded me of my question.
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Sarah Ali
•Survivor benefits are different from spousal benefits. As a widow, you receive 100% of your deceased husband's benefit amount (including all COLAs) if you claim at your full retirement age or later. If you claim before your FRA, the survivor benefit is reduced. This differs from spousal benefits, which max out at 50% of the worker's PIA. But yes, both benefit types receive annual COLAs.
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Benjamin Kim
I think the SSA reps themselves get confused about this stuff sometimes!! When I called about something similar last year, I got 3 different answers from 3 different people! One told me COLAs don't apply to spousal benefits, another said they do, and the third wasn't sure. It's crazy how inconsistent they can be!!
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Sarah Ali
•This is unfortunately common. Always get the name and direct extension of any SSA representative who gives you benefit information. If possible, ask them to note your account with the information they provided. For definitive answers, you can also request a written PEBES (Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) that details your specific situation.
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Alice Fleming
This is all really helpful information. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to schedule my application. From what everyone's saying, it sounds like I'll get the full 50% of my husband's current benefit (which includes all the COLAs since 2020), not just 50% of what he was getting back then. Since I'm already past my FRA, I shouldn't have any reductions either. That's a nice relief! Thanks everyone for your help explaining this.
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Victoria Stark
•good luck with the call! u might be on hold for hours tho just warning u
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