My full retirement age (July 2017) I filed a Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits (which I was eligible) and received 50% of my husband's benefit for 4 years. I will be 70 this month (July 2021) and I was informed by Social Security my new benefit calculation result includes the 4 years of Delayed Retirement Credits (8% yearly). However, I determined this calculation did not include any Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLA) for those SAME 4 years. Question: Is it possible Social Security is NOT including those 4 years of COLA since I was receiving 50% of my husband's benefit which included 50% of his COLA? (i.e., Social Security may deem I already received my COLA via my husband's benefit for those 4 years.)

Hi. No. A person's primary insurance amount (PIA) is automatically increased to include all cost of living (COLA) increases that occur after they reach age 62, regardless of whether or not they are drawing benefits. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). Any delayed retirement credits (DRC) earned for waiting past full retirement age (FRA) to start drawing benefits are added to the PIA adjusted for COLAs.

Best, Jerry