Hello,

I was looking at the question before this page. Person wanted to know if wife's benefit is based on husbands's PIA at FRA or is based on the COLA affected amount if amount is higher when the wife applies 2 years later for benefits on husband. The answer I saw looks like the wife would receive a higher benefit based on the husband's current benefit with COLA,.

I think it should be based solely on the PIA at FRA or 66 years and 6 months of the husband in the example. Thank you

Hi. I'm not sure which prior Q & A you refer to, so I'll give you an example to explain how it works. Let's say Joe started drawing his benefits 5 years ago at his full retirement age (FRA). Bill's PIA at that time was $2000, but has PIA has risen to a current amount of $2200 as a result of cost of living (COLA) increases.

Next, we'll say that Joe's wife Amy is turning FRA and is filing for spousal benefits. Amy doesn't have enough Social Security earnings credits to qualify for her own benefits, so she is only eligible for spousal benefits. Amy's unreduced spousal benefit rate would then be $1100, or 50% of her husband's current PIA.

Best, Jerry