Will starting Social Security in November qualify me for the COLA increase in January?

Yes, you will qualify for the COLA in January even if you start receiving benefits in November. The SSA applies the COLA to anyone receiving benefits when the increase takes effect, regardless of how long you've been collecting. Your friend who said you need to be on SS for a full year was incorrect. File whenever you're ready - it won't affect your eligibility for the upcoming COLA.

ur friend is wrong lol. i started benefits last feb and got the cola increase in jan this year. dont wait just apply now

What if the COLA is really low next year??? I've been on SS for 6 years and the increases NEVER keep up with my actual expenses. Groceries up 30% but we get what, 3%?? The whole system is RIGGED against seniors. I'd recommend waiting until January JUST IN CASE there's some weird rule change. The SSA constantly changes things without telling anyone!! They denied my neighbor's COLA last year for some technical reason I don't understand.

Congrats on reaching your FRA! I just wanted to add that when I started my benefits, I was so confused about when my first payment would actually arrive. For anyone who applies in November, your first payment should come in December (SS pays a month behind). Just something to plan for with your finances.

One thing no one mentioned yet - if you've already reached your FRA, you might want to consider whether filing a restricted application for spousal benefits only would be better, depending on your marital situation. This could let you delay your own retirement benefits to earn delayed retirement credits while still getting some income now. The COLA would apply to whichever benefit you're receiving in January.

Has anyone actually tried calling SS lately? I tried last week and waited on hold for 1.5 hours before giving up. Their offices near me still require appointments and the earliest they had was January! OP might want to start the application online to make sure they get it in on time.

My grandma says shes getting a 2.45 COLA and she only started SS in august so yeah u qualify

To add some additional context: The 2025 COLA of 2.45% will first appear in the January payment that most beneficiaries receive on the 3rd of the month (or the banking day before if the 3rd falls on a weekend). If you have a birthday between the 1st-10th of the month, your payment comes on the 2nd Wednesday; 11th-20th, it's the 3rd Wednesday; and 21st-31st, it's the 4th Wednesday. The COLA increase is prorated – you get the full annual percentage regardless of when you started receiving benefits. Hope this helps with your planning!

Just wanted to add that you can actually apply online at ssa.gov which is much faster than trying to call or get an appointment. The online application is pretty straightforward and you can do it 24/7. Since you're already at FRA, you won't need to worry about any earnings test restrictions either. And yes, definitely confirm that you'll get the COLA - it applies to all beneficiaries receiving payments when the adjustment takes effect in January, regardless of when you started. Good luck with your application!

I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely will qualify for the January COLA increase even if you start benefits in November. I work with seniors on benefits issues and see this question come up frequently. The COLA is applied to ALL beneficiaries who are receiving payments when it goes into effect, with no minimum time requirement. Since you've reached your FRA at 67, there's no downside to filing now versus waiting. Just make sure to apply online at ssa.gov soon since there can be processing delays, and you'll want your benefits to start flowing before the holidays. The 2.45% increase will automatically apply to your January payment regardless of when you filed.

I started my Social Security benefits in September and was wondering the same thing about the COLA! My local SSA office confirmed that the cost-of-living adjustment applies to everyone receiving benefits when it takes effect in January - it doesn't matter if you've been getting payments for one month or ten years. The 2.45% increase for 2025 will show up automatically in your January payment. Since you're already at full retirement age, there's really no reason to delay filing if you need the income. The online application at ssa.gov is definitely the way to go - much easier than trying to get through on the phone or scheduling an office visit.

Welcome to the community! I'm glad to see so many helpful responses here. As someone new to Social Security planning myself, I wanted to add that the SSA website has a really useful COLA information page that explains how the adjustments work. What I found particularly helpful when I was researching this topic is that they publish the COLA percentage in October for the following year, so there's no guesswork involved. The 2.45% for 2025 is already set in stone. One thing that might be worth considering - since you mentioned you're still working part-time, make sure you understand how your earnings might affect your benefits even at FRA. While there's no earnings test at full retirement age, your benefits could still be subject to federal taxes depending on your total income. But regarding your main question about the COLA - everyone here is absolutely right that you'll get it regardless of when you start this year!

I just wanted to jump in and confirm what everyone else has said - you'll definitely qualify for the COLA in January regardless of starting in November! I'm relatively new to navigating Social Security myself, but I did a lot of research on this exact question earlier this year. The automatic cost-of-living adjustment applies to all beneficiaries who are receiving payments when it takes effect, with no waiting period required. Since you've reached your full retirement age, there's really no benefit to delaying further unless you specifically want to earn delayed retirement credits by waiting until age 70. The online application process at ssa.gov is straightforward and will save you the headache of trying to get through by phone. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who started benefits mid-year - I filed in July and received the full COLA increase in January with no issues whatsoever. The Social Security Administration's system automatically applies the adjustment to everyone receiving benefits when it goes into effect, regardless of how long you've been collecting. Don't let anyone tell you there's a waiting period because there simply isn't one! Since you're at your FRA, you're in a great position to start now and still get the 2.45% increase come January. The online application really is the best route - I had mine processed within a few weeks and avoided all the phone hassles. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 next month and planning to file for Social Security. Reading through everyone's experiences and confirmations about the COLA eligibility has been incredibly valuable. It's clear from all the responses that the cost-of-living adjustment applies automatically to anyone receiving benefits when it takes effect in January, regardless of when you started during the year. The consistency of information here, especially from people who have actually gone through this process recently, gives me a lot of confidence. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of supportive community I was hoping to find!