My FRA is April of 2015. For my DRC- PIA, I was given a starting figure of $1878 by the SSA. On every DRC starting with 1 and going to 48 there is a consistent increase of $12-$13 dollars. Between 2015 and 2018, I know there have been COLA increases to SS. My question is when do those increases in the COLA get added to my PIA?

Hi,

When Social Security has cost of living increases (COLA), they become effective with recipients' benefits for the month of December that are paid in January. Both COLAs and delayed retirement credits (DRC) are percentage increases that are applied to the recipient's primary insurance amount (PIA) or reduced monthly benefit rate if the person received reduced retirement benefits (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0300615692). DRCs are not compounded, so if your benefit rate has previously been increased due to DRCs you would not apply subsequent DRCs to any rate increase that resulted from previously including DRCs.

Best, Jerry