Social Security COLA increase timing - do new 2025 retirees get current year COLA?
I'm turning 67 in March 2025 and planning to file for my Social Security retirement benefits in April. I've been researching how the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) works for new beneficiaries and I'm confused about the timing. If I start receiving benefits in April 2025, will I get the COLA increase that was announced for 2025, or do I have to wait until January 2026 to see my first COLA increase? The SSA website isn't clear about this and I want to make sure I'm budgeting correctly. Does anyone know how this works? Thanks!
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Yara Sayegh
when u start getting benefits you get whatever the current amount is which includes the cola from January. u dont have to wait til next January
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Connor Gallagher
•That makes sense. So the 2025 COLA would already be factored into my initial benefit amount? Does that mean I'd get the 2026 COLA in January 2026 even though I've only been collecting for 9 months?
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Keisha Johnson
You'll receive your benefit with the 2025 COLA already included. The way it works is that the COLA is applied to your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) in January of each year. When you file in April 2025, your benefit calculation will already include the 2025 COLA increase that went into effect in January. Then in January 2026, you'll receive the 2026 COLA increase just like everyone else, regardless of when you started receiving benefits during the previous year. There's no prorating or waiting period for COLAs once you're receiving benefits.
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Paolo Longo
•Is that the same for SSI too?? I got approved in February but I thought I missed the COLA from January and I've been kinda mad about it tbh. The rep didn't explain ANY of this when I applied.
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Keisha Johnson
•Yes, it works similarly for SSI. When you're approved, your payment is based on the current federal benefit rate which includes any COLA that went into effect in January. However, SSI has different rules about payment amounts based on income, living arrangements, and state supplements which can complicate things. It's always a good idea to ask your SSA representative to break down exactly how your payment was calculated.
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CosmicCowboy
I started my SS last July and I DID get the COLA increase this January! You'll get the 2025 COLA in your initial benefit in April, then you'll get the 2026 COLA next January.
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Amina Diallo
To be very specific about this - your benefit amount when you file in April 2025 will already include the 2025 COLA. The PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) is adjusted annually on January 1st for all COLA increases, even for people who haven't started collecting yet. When calculating your benefit, SSA takes your PIA (which will already include all past COLAs including the 2025 one), then adjusts it for your claiming age. Since you'll be 67 (assuming that's your FRA), you'll get 100% of your PIA. You'll then receive the 2026 COLA starting January 2026, just like everyone else on Social Security. COLAs are never prorated based on when you started receiving benefits during the year.
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Connor Gallagher
•Thank you for that thorough explanation! That clears things up perfectly. I was concerned I might miss out on some increases by starting mid-year.
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Oliver Schulz
The SSA phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through to for these kinds of questions!!! I tried for THREE DAYS last month when I had a COLA question. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through - took like 20 minutes instead of forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Much better than waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. The agent confirmed exactly what others are saying here - you get the current year's COLA in your starting benefit, then the following January you get the new COLA just like everyone else.
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Natasha Orlova
•does this service actually work? i'm struggling to reach ssa about my wep reduction
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Oliver Schulz
•Yes it worked for me! Got through to a rep in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. Definitely worth it for complicated questions like WEP reductions that you need an actual person to explain.
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Paolo Longo
WAIT I'm confused! If you haven't even STARTED getting benefits yet, how can you get a COLA increase??? Doesn't COLA only apply to people already ON social security? I thought COLA was for people already getting checks not people just signing up???
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Amina Diallo
•This is a common misunderstanding. COLA increases actually apply to your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) before you even file for benefits. Think of it this way - the SSA has a formula that calculates what your benefit would be at your full retirement age. That amount gets COLA increases every January whether you're collecting yet or not. So when someone files for benefits, they're getting the current value of their benefit, which includes all past COLA increases. It would be unfair if someone who waited to file got stuck with their benefit amount from years ago without any inflation adjustments.
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CosmicCowboy
My sister had this same question!!! She retired in June last year and was worried about the COLA too lol. She got the full COLA in January just like me (I've been on SS for 6 years). They don't pro-rate it or anything.
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Natasha Orlova
im not sure this is right. i think the COLA only starts counting after you've been on benefits for a full year. thats what my neighbor told me.
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Keisha Johnson
•Your neighbor is incorrect. Everyone receiving Social Security benefits gets the COLA increase in January regardless of when they started receiving benefits. There is no requirement to be on benefits for a full year before receiving a COLA. This is directly from SSA policy.
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CosmicCowboy
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED ANYWAY!!! These tiny COLAs don't even come CLOSE to covering real inflation!!!!! I got a pathetic 3.2% this year while my rent went up 12% and groceries up AT LEAST 20%!!! They use some bogus calculation that ALWAYS underestimates the REAL cost increases seniors face!!!! They don't care about us AT ALL!!!!
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Yara Sayegh
•this is so true. my medications went up way more than my ss check did
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Connor Gallagher
Thank you all for the helpful information! So to make sure I have this straight: 1. When I start benefits in April 2025, my payment will already include the 2025 COLA that was applied in January 2. In January 2026, I'll receive the 2026 COLA increase like everyone else 3. I don't have to be on benefits for a full year to get a COLA increase This is really reassuring to know for my retirement planning. I appreciate everyone's expertise!
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Amina Diallo
•You've got it exactly right! Good luck with your retirement planning.
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