Will Social Security COLA increases apply to survivor benefits if I delay claiming until 70?

Yes, survivor benefits DO receive COLA increases even while you're waiting to claim them. So in your situation, if your husband's benefit was $2,800/month when he passed, and there's a 3% COLA each year, that amount will continue to grow with inflation during those 5 years you're waiting. You don't lose the COLAs by delaying.This is actually one of the advantages of survivor benefits compared to retirement benefits - they grow with COLA while you wait, but they don't get delayed retirement credits like your own retirement benefit would.I went through this exact situation when my wife passed. I waited 4 years to claim her survivor benefit, and it had grown quite a bit with the COLAs by the time I started receiving it. Make sure you've filed the initial death report with SSA though - that establishes your eligibility even though you're not claiming yet.

Thank you so much for explaining this! That's a huge relief to know I won't miss out on those COLA increases. I did file the death report right after he passed, so I guess I'm all set there. I appreciate you sharing your personal experience - it makes me feel more confident about my decision to wait.

just wanted to add that u should really double check this at your local office cuz my mom thought the same thing but when she finally applied they calculated differently than she expected!!! the agent said something about the PIA and indexing factors that confused her. better safe than sorry!!!

Oh that's concerning! I've been trying to call my local office for weeks but can't get through. The phone system is so frustrating. I'll keep trying though - you're right that I need to confirm this directly with SSA.

I tried contacting SSA about a similar issue for MONTHS with no luck - busy signals, disconnects, and 2+ hour hold times that ended with nothing. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual SSA agent in under 20 minutes. Totally saved my sanity! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or just go to claimyr.comRegarding your actual question - the previous poster is correct that COLA adjustments WILL be applied to survivor benefits even while you delay claiming. The benefit amount is established at the time of death but continues to receive all COLA increases.However, unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits don't increase with delayed retirement credits. So waiting past your FRA won't increase the base benefit - you'll just get the COLA increases. Make sure you understand this distinction when planning.

Thank you for that service recommendation! I'll definitely check it out because the phone situation is making me crazy. And thanks for confirming about the COLAs. I'm actually already past my FRA (which was 66 and 2 months), so I understand I won't get additional increases beyond that. I'm mainly waiting because my own retirement benefit will be higher at 70 than the survivor benefit, so this is part of a larger strategy.

The way it was explained to me when I went through this last year is that your husband's benefit gets COLA increases EVERY year regardless of when you claim it. So YES those increases will be added during your waiting period.BUT what gets confusing is that there are actually TWO calculations involved with survivor benefits: 1) what your husband was receiving when he died, or 2) what he WOULD HAVE received if he had lived to FRA (if he died before reaching FRA). They give you whichever is higher.Are you also eligible for retirement benefits on your own record? If so, you might want to consider taking the SMALLER benefit first and switching to the larger one later. This strategy can maximize lifetime benefits in many cases.

This is excellent information, but I want to clarify one important point: The \

This is really helpful information! My own benefit at 70 should be higher than my survivor benefit, so I've been thinking I should wait to claim anything until 70. But what you're suggesting is that I could take the survivor benefit NOW and then switch to my own retirement benefit at 70? Would there be any penalty or reduction if I did that? I thought if I took ANY benefit before 70, I'd be stuck with a permanently reduced amount.

To directly answer your question: Yes, Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) will continue to be applied to your survivor benefit even during the years you delay claiming. Your late husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is the basis for your survivor benefit - will receive all COLA increases that occur between his death and when you eventually claim.Regarding your follow-up question about claiming strategies: Survivor benefits and retirement benefits are treated as separate entitlements, and you can claim them at different times. There's no penalty for claiming survivor benefits early if you plan to switch to your own retirement benefit later.Here's how this works:1. If you take the survivor benefit now at 65, it will be slightly reduced (about 4.75% below the full amount) because you're claiming before your FRA of 66+2mo.2. This reduction ONLY affects the survivor benefit.3. You can then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70, which will include all delayed retirement credits (32% increase over your FRA amount).This strategy often maximizes lifetime benefits when your own benefit at 70 will exceed the survivor benefit.

Thank you for this detailed explanation! I had no idea I could take the survivor benefit now with only a small reduction and STILL get my full enhanced retirement benefit at 70. This changes everything in my planning. Just to confirm: If I take the reduced survivor benefit now, and then at 70 switch to my own retirement benefit with all the delayed credits, I'd be getting approximately 4 years of survivor benefits that I otherwise would have missed out on by waiting until 70, right? That seems like a no-brainer if my own benefit at 70 will be higher anyway!

I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SITUATION and I want to warn you about something NO ONE told me!!!! When I went to apply for survivor benefits after waiting 3 years, they did add all the COLAs but then they SUBTRACTED those months I was eligible but didn't claim from my back payment!!!! So YES you get the COLAs but NO you don't get retroactive benefits for the months you were eligible but chose not to apply! The SSA rep told me I could have applied earlier and SUSPENDED the payments if I wanted to

wait is this actually true? i thought survivor benefits could be paid retroactively for up to 6 months?? did u ask for a supervisor or anything??

YES I spoke to a supervisor who confirmed this policy! Survivor benefits CAN be paid retroactively for up to 6 months ONLY, not for the entire period you were eligible! So if you wait 5 YEARS like the original poster is planning, she'll only get retroactive payments for 6 MONTHS, not the full 5 YEARS! That's potentially TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars GONE FOREVER!!!!

The previous comment raises an important point about retroactivity that I should clarify. Survivor benefits can indeed be claimed retroactively, but only for up to 6 months prior to your application date.This is why the claiming strategy I mentioned could be beneficial: If your own retirement benefit at 70 will be higher than the survivor benefit, claiming the survivor benefit earlier (even slightly reduced) and then switching to your retirement benefit at 70 often maximizes total lifetime benefits.To summarize the key points about survivor benefits and COLAs:1. Yes, survivor benefits receive all COLA increases during years you delay claiming2. Survivor benefits are only retroactive for 6 months maximum3. Taking reduced survivor benefits now doesn't affect your own retirement benefit at 704. The survivor benefit reduction for claiming before FRA is relatively small (0.396% per month)5. Strategies for survivors are complex and highly individual-specificI'd recommend consulting with an SSA representative to verify the best approach for your specific situation.

Thank you so much for clarifying! I really appreciate everyone's help here. I think I'm going to apply for the survivor benefit right away based on all this information. Waiting until 70 for everything would mean leaving money on the table if my own retirement benefit will be higher anyway.I'll try to get through to SSA to confirm all of this specifically for my situation. The 6-month retroactivity limit is especially important information I hadn't considered!

Sorta related but I have a question - my husband passed 2 years ago and I'm 63 now. If I take survivor benefits at my FRA (which is 66 and 4 months), will that amount include the COLAs from when he died until I claim? And does it matter that he was only getting 80% of his full retirement because he claimed early at 62?Sorry to piggyback on your question but this thread has been really helpful!

Yes, your survivor benefit will include all COLAs from when your husband died until you claim.Regarding the reduced benefit - when a person claims retirement benefits early and then passes away, the survivor benefit calculation can work in two ways:1. If your husband was already receiving reduced benefits when he died, your survivor benefit will be based on that reduced amount, but it cannot be less than 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).2. Alternatively, you're entitled to what your husband would have received if he was still alive when you claim survivor benefits, including any COLAs.SSA will give you whichever amount is higher. And yes, all COLAs that have occurred since his passing will be applied to whichever calculation is used.

Thank you! So even though he took his benefit early, I might still get more than what he was receiving when he passed away? That's good to know. I really appreciate your help!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. I went through something similar when my wife passed last year, and the claiming strategy discussion here is really valuable. One thing I'd add that helped me make the decision: I created a simple spreadsheet to compare the total dollars I'd receive under different scenarios. For example, if you take the survivor benefit now (even slightly reduced) for 5 years, then switch to your higher retirement benefit at 70, versus waiting until 70 for everything. In my case, taking the survivor benefit earlier won out by tens of thousands of dollars over my lifetime, even with the small reduction for claiming before FRA. The key was that my own retirement benefit at 70 was significantly higher than the survivor benefit. Also, regarding contacting SSA - I had luck going to my local office first thing in the morning without an appointment. They have walk-in hours early in the day, and I was able to get concrete answers about my specific situation. Much better than the phone maze! The folks here have given you excellent technical information about COLAs and retroactivity limits. Just wanted to add the practical perspective that running the numbers for your specific situation will give you peace of mind about whichever path you choose.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This is such a complex situation and I really appreciate how thoroughly everyone has explained the COLA and claiming strategy aspects. One thing I wanted to add from my own experience helping my sister navigate this after her husband passed: Make sure you also factor in any potential changes to Medicare premiums when you're running those scenarios. When you start receiving Social Security benefits (whether survivor or retirement), your Medicare Part B premiums will typically be deducted automatically, and those premiums increase each year too. Also, since you mentioned being 65, have you already enrolled in Medicare? If not, that's another important piece of the puzzle to consider alongside your Social Security claiming strategy. The timing can affect your coverage options and costs. The advice about visiting the local office early in the morning is spot on - I've found that approach much more successful than the phone system. Bring copies of all your documentation (death certificate, marriage certificate, your Social Security card, etc.) so you can get everything sorted in one visit. You're asking all the right questions and it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. The claiming strategy discussion here should save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Dominique. This thread has been incredibly informative and I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. I work with seniors on financial planning, and I've seen many widows face this exact dilemma. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like the consensus here is correct - claiming your survivor benefit now while waiting until 70 for your own retirement benefit is likely your best strategy. One additional consideration: Don't forget about taxes when you're running your calculations. Depending on your other income sources, you might be in a lower tax bracket now than you will be at 70 when your retirement benefit kicks in at its maximum amount. Taking some Social Security income now (the survivor benefit) could actually be tax-advantageous compared to having all that income hit in later years. Also, regarding the SSA office visits - if your local office is particularly busy, some people have had success driving to offices in smaller nearby towns. They can handle your case just as well, and sometimes have shorter wait times. You're handling this decision very thoughtfully, and it's clear you're going to make the choice that's best for your long-term financial security. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the complexities of survivor benefit claiming strategies. I wanted to share something that might help with your SSA contact struggles: I've had success using the SSA's online "my Social Security" account to submit written inquiries. While it's not as immediate as a phone call, I usually get responses within 7-10 business days, and having everything in writing has been helpful for keeping track of the information they provide. Also, regarding the claiming strategy everyone's discussing - you might want to ask SSA to provide you with benefit estimates for both scenarios (waiting until 70 vs. claiming survivor benefits now) when you do connect with them. They can run the actual numbers based on your specific earnings record and your husband's benefit amount, which will give you the most accurate comparison for your decision-making. The consensus here about taking the survivor benefit now while your own retirement benefit grows until 70 sounds solid based on what you've described. The fact that you'll get all those COLA increases on the survivor benefit even while claiming it early, combined with maximizing your own retirement benefit, seems like a win-win approach. Best of luck with everything, and thank you to everyone who contributed such detailed and helpful information to this discussion!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This thread has been incredibly helpful and I wanted to add one more resource that might be useful for your situation. If you're having trouble getting through to SSA by phone or visiting in person, you can also contact your local congressman's office. Most have constituent services staff who specialize in helping with federal agency issues like Social Security. They can often get answers or expedite cases when regular channels aren't working. I used this approach when my father was having issues with his disability claim and they were able to get a response from SSA within a week. The strategy everyone has outlined here about claiming survivor benefits now while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70 sounds spot-on based on what you've described. The key insight that survivor benefits continue to receive COLAs even while you delay claiming, combined with the fact that taking them early doesn't affect your own retirement benefit, makes this a pretty clear choice financially. One last thought - once you do start receiving survivor benefits, SSA will automatically review your case when you turn 70 to see if switching to your own retirement benefit would be advantageous. So even if you don't actively request the switch, they should handle the transition for you if it results in a higher monthly payment. You're asking all the right questions and clearly thinking this through carefully. Wishing you the best as you navigate this difficult decision.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This thread has been incredibly informative and I wanted to share a resource that helped me when I was in a similar situation. When my husband passed three years ago, I was completely overwhelmed by all the Social Security decisions I had to make. What really helped was requesting a "survivors benefit estimate" from SSA that showed me exactly what I'd receive at different claiming ages. You can request this through your local office or sometimes through the my Social Security online portal. The advice everyone has given here about COLAs continuing to apply during delay periods is absolutely correct. In my case, I was able to claim survivor benefits at my FRA and the amount included all the COLA increases that had occurred since my husband's death two years earlier. One thing I'd add to the excellent claiming strategy discussion: make sure you understand how your Medicare premiums might change when you start receiving benefits. In some cases, higher Social Security income can push you into higher Medicare premium brackets (IRMAA), though this usually only affects people with substantial other income. Based on everything you've shared, claiming the survivor benefit now while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70 sounds like the right approach. The combination of not losing out on years of survivor benefits plus maximizing your own retirement benefit is hard to beat financially. You're handling this decision very thoughtfully during what I know is an incredibly difficult time. The fact that you're researching all these details shows you're going to make the best choice for your long-term security.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This thread has been incredibly helpful and I wanted to add my perspective as someone who works at a Social Security field office. The information everyone has provided about COLAs continuing to apply to survivor benefits during delay periods is absolutely correct. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of survivor benefits, so I'm glad you asked the question. A few practical points from the SSA side that might help: 1. When you do visit a field office, bring your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, and both of your Social Security cards. Having everything ready will speed up the process significantly. 2. If you're having trouble with appointments, many offices do accept walk-ins for survivor benefit applications - they're considered priority cases. Arriving within the first hour of opening usually works best. 3. The "survivors benefit estimate" that others mentioned is something we can generate on the spot during your visit, showing you exactly what you'd receive now versus at different future claiming ages. 4. The automatic review at age 70 to switch you to retirement benefits (if higher) is indeed standard procedure, so you don't need to worry about missing that transition. The claiming strategy discussed here - taking survivor benefits now while letting your retirement benefit grow until 70 - is exactly what we typically recommend for people in your situation where the retirement benefit will ultimately be higher. You're making a smart decision by getting all the facts before proceeding. This community has given you excellent guidance!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This has been such an incredibly informative thread and I wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I was navigating survivor benefits. When you do visit the SSA office, consider asking them to walk you through the "break-even analysis" for your specific situation. This shows you at what age the total lifetime benefits become equal between different claiming strategies. In most cases like yours where the retirement benefit at 70 is higher than the survivor benefit, claiming survivor benefits early wins out significantly over a normal lifetime. I also wanted to mention that once you start receiving survivor benefits, you'll get an annual statement showing how your benefit amount has changed with COLAs, which helps you track exactly what you're receiving and plan for the future. The fact that an actual SSA employee confirmed all the advice here should give you complete confidence in moving forward. You've done your homework thoroughly and have a solid plan. The claiming strategy of taking survivor benefits now while maximizing your retirement benefit at 70 is exactly what financial planners recommend for situations like yours. You're handling this incredibly difficult situation with such thoughtfulness and care. Your husband would be proud of how well you're planning for your financial security. Best of luck with your SSA visit!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. This thread has been incredibly comprehensive and I wanted to add one final perspective that might be helpful as you prepare for your SSA visit. As someone who has helped family members navigate these decisions, I'd suggest creating a simple one-page summary of your key questions before you go to the office. Based on this discussion, your main points would be: 1) Confirm COLA increases will apply to survivor benefits during any delay period, 2) Get official benefit estimates for claiming survivor benefits now vs. waiting until 70, 3) Confirm the 6-month retroactivity limit, and 4) Request the break-even analysis showing lifetime benefit comparisons. Having these written down will help ensure you don't forget anything important in what can be an emotionally overwhelming appointment. It also shows the SSA representative that you've done your homework and helps them provide more focused assistance. The consensus from everyone here - including the actual SSA employee who confirmed the advice - is crystal clear: claim your survivor benefits now while letting your retirement benefit grow until 70. You'll maximize your lifetime benefits while not missing out on years of payments you're entitled to receive. You've approached this decision with such careful thought and research. Your preparation and the support from this community should give you complete confidence as you move forward. Wishing you all the best with your appointment!