Ask Larry
Our Social Security experts have answered more than 10,000 questions about Social Security over many years. Search for your questions and answers here.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Cost Of Living Increases
May 3, 2023
Will My Spousal Rate Include The 8.7% 2023 COLA If I Wait Until January 2024 To Claim Spousal Benefits?
March 15, 2023
Is It True That If Someone Waits Until Age 70 To Collect Benefits They Don't Receive COLA Increases Between Ages 60 And 70?
January 19, 2023
Why Doesn't The Age 70 Estimate On My Social Security Benefit Statement Include The 8.7% COLA?
November 22, 2022
Will I Miss Out On The Large COLA Increase If I Don't Become Eligible For Benefits By December 2022?
November 7, 2022
If My Husband And I Start Drawing In December Will We Get The COLA In January?
October 28, 2022
Does The 8.7% COLA Only Apply To People Who Are Already Receiving Benefits By The End Of 2022?
October 26, 2022
Would It Be Wise For Me To Sign Up Now To Get The COLA Increase For 2023?
October 7, 2022
Will I Get The Cost Of Living Increase If I Start Benefits In January 2023?
September 27, 2022
Will My Own Benefit Rate Accrue COLAs Once I Switch From Survivor Benefits To My Own Record?
September 24, 2022
Will I Get Credit For The January 2023 COLA If I Retire At Age 65 In 2023?
September 15, 2022
Will I Still Get The COLA Increase If I Wait Until After The First Of The Year To Sign Up?
September 13, 2022
Will I Receive The Cost Of Living Increases That Occur While My Benefits Are Suspended?
August 29, 2022
If I Take My Benefits In November 2022 Will I Be Eligible For The January 2023 COLA Increase?
August 22, 2022
Will The COLAs That Occur Before I Reach Age 62 Increase My Future Benefits?
August 21, 2022
Am I Correct That COLAs Are Applied To A Person's PIA And Not Their Actual Benefit Rate?
August 12, 2022
Will Starting My Benefits In December Vs. January Make A Difference In Whether Or Not I Receive The Upcoming COLA?
July 25, 2022
Why Would I Be Eligible For Survivor Benefits But Not Be Eligible For A COLA?
July 19, 2022
If I File For My Social Security This Month Will I Get Next January's COLA?
July 14, 2022
Does My PIA Increase By The Same Annual Inflation Adjustments Whether I'm Collecting Or Not?
July 9, 2022
Will I Lose Out On The COLA If I Wait Until January To Start Collecting Benefits?
June 10, 2022
Do Social Security COLAs Get Factored Into Future Payments For People Who Aren't Yet Drawing Benefits?
June 9, 2022
Will I Get The Cost Of Living Increase That Was Given In January Of This Year?
May 21, 2022
Should I Switch To My Own Benefits Prior To The End Of 2022 To Take Advantage Of Next Year's COLA?
March 10, 2022
Is It True That I Won't Get The 5.9% COLA Because I'm Not Yet Receiving Benefits?
January 24, 2022
Will I Get The 5.9% COLA If I Start Collecting My Full Retirement Benefit In February 2022?
December 29, 2021
Is It True That I Won't Receive The 5.9% COLA Because I Didn't File In Time?
December 23, 2021
Will The 5.9% Cost Of Living Increase Be Applied To My Current Benefit Amount Or My Original Benefit Amount?
November 18, 2021
Is There Any Reason For My DWB Benefit Not Increasing By The Full 5.9% COLA?
November 18, 2021
If I Start Drawing Benefits In January 2023 Will I Receive The Upcoming 5.9% Cost Of Living Increase?
October 19, 2021
If I Claim My Benefits When I Reach FRA In February 2022 Will I Still Receive The Upcoming COLA Increase?
October 14, 2021
Will My Benefit Be Credited With The 5.9% COLA If I Turn 62 In December 2021?
October 13, 2021
If I Turn 62 In December 2022 And If I File For Early Retirement Will I Receive The Newly Announced 5.9% COLA?
October 13, 2021
Will The Just Announced COLA Apply To Benefit Rates For People Born In 1960?
August 17, 2021
Is It Correct That My Husband Would Get A Higher Benefit Rate If He Starts Drawing This Year Due To The Expected Upcoming COLA?
July 26, 2021
Should I Schedule My First Payment For 2021 To Take Advantage Of The Expected 2022 COLA Increase?
May 25, 2021
When We Receive A COLA Next Year Will They Add The COLA To Both My Husband's Benefit And My Spousal Benefit?
May 22, 2021
Will My Husband Get Credit For The COLAs That He's Already Received When He Switches To His Own Account?
November 29, 2020
Will My COLA Increases Be Included When Calculating My Wife's Spousal Benefits?
November 14, 2020
Should My Age 70 Benefit Have Included Delayed Credits Plus COLAs From Age 66 To 70?
March 30, 2020
Do I Qualify For COLAs If I Receive Benefits On My Deceased Husband's Record?
October 22, 2019
Will My Benefit Rate At Age 70 Increase By The Annual Cost Of Living Increases From When I Reach FRA?
September 25, 2019
Is It True That COLAs Are Added Starting At Age 62 Even If You Aren't Drawing Benefits?
October 18, 2018
Should I Start Drawing Benefits Sooner To Take Advantage Of The 2.8% COLA?
August 1, 2018
Can You Provide Documentation Of What's Written In Your Book Regarding DRCs & COLAs?
July 29, 2018
Will My Ex-Wife's Future Divorced Spousal Benefits Be Calculated Based On My Current PIA Or My Future PIA?
October 23, 2017
Will I Receive The 2% COLA Increase If I Apply For Social Security In December?

About the Author
Laurence J. Kotlikoff
Laurence J. Kotlikoff is a William Fairfield Warren Professor and Professor of Economics at Boston University, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Econometric Society, and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Professor Kotlikoff received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1977. Kotlikoff is the Director of the Fiscal Analysis Center.
A New York Times Bestselling author, he has written nineteen books and hundreds of professional articles and op-eds. He is a frequent television and radio guest. His columns have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, London Financial Times, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Forbes, Yahoo.com, Fortune, and other major publications. In 2014, The Economist named him one of the world's 25 most influential economists