I was born in 1954 and my husband was born in 1952. When my husband turned age 66 I took my Social Security at age 64 1/2. My husband then filed a restricted application on my benefits when he turned 66 while he was waiting to age 70 to start his own benefit. His restricted application amount has been $920 ish but has increased due to small COLA increases over the last few years. When he turns 70 he will begin his benefit (guessing about $3200) which will have grown due to delayed retirement credits plus COLA increases. He has had COLA increases on his Restricted application off my benefit but we are wondering if he will get the full delayed retirement credits plus the full COLA on his higher benefit when he switches to his or benefit or if he will have to give back the cola from the restricted application he drew for 4 years thru some kind of formula. Also wondering when the COLA will be paid to him on his benefit since others don't always get it on the first month of the year. He will turn 70 in October of 2022. Thank you for all you do!

Hi. Social Security cost of living (COLA) increases are applied to the primary insurance amount (PIA) of the account holder on whose record the benefits are paid. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). And, since auxiliary (e.g. spousal, child) and survivor benefits are derived from the account holders PIA, all auxiliary and survivor beneficiaries receive credit for the COLAs applied to the account holder's PIA.

COLAs are applied to an account holder's PIA starting with the first COLA that occurs after the earlier of the account holder's death or 62nd birthday. Workers who live past age 62 receive credit for all COLAs that occur after their 62nd birthday, even if they don't start drawing their benefits until a later age. So, when your husband starts drawing his own benefits he will receive credit for all of the Social Security COLAs that have occurred since he turned age 62.

Social Security COLAs are always effective with benefit payments for December, which are the payments that are due in January.

Best, Jerry