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.

Delayed Retirement Credits

March 6, 2023

Does The 8% Annual Increase From Delayed Retirement Credits Only Apply If I Continue Working?

February 22, 2023

When Can I Expect To Get The Increase In By Benefits Due To Delayed Retirement Credits?

February 6, 2023

Aren't Benefit Rates Increased For Each Month You Delay Filing?

February 4, 2023

Why Didn't I Get The Rate Increase I Was Promised?

December 30, 2022

Does The Value Of Each DRC Go Up With COLA Increases?

November 27, 2022

Will My Payment In February Only Include A Portion Of My DRC Increase?

October 30, 2022

Would You Know When The Next Recalculation Will Occur?

October 16, 2022

Is It True That Delayed Retirement Credits Are Awarded Monthly Instead Of Annually?

July 16, 2022

Is It Correct That I Won't Receive My Full Age 70 Rate Until January 2023?

June 19, 2022

Why Is It A Mystery To Find Out When Some Delayed Retirement Credits Will Be Received?

February 9, 2022

Doesn't It Make More Sense For Me To Start Drawing Effective With January Rather Than June?

February 7, 2022

Is SSA Being Truthful?

December 13, 2021

Do I Need To Appeal?

October 8, 2021

Do I Need To Remain Patient?

September 19, 2021

Why Does My Benefit Amount Increase Each Year?

August 16, 2021

Can You Explain The Discrepancy In My Benefit Estimate?

August 4, 2021

Feedback Regarding DRCs.

June 17, 2021

If I File Effective With The Month I Turn 69 Will I Get All Of My DRCs On My First Check?

April 10, 2021

When Would My Benefit Rate Go Up To The Next Level?

March 3, 2021

Should I Wait Until Age 70 1/2 To File In Order To Lock In All Delayed Retirement Credits?

February 16, 2021

Should I Call Social Security?

February 16, 2021

Do You Have Any Thoughts On My Situation?

February 11, 2021

Would My Benefit Amount Increase By 8% Per Year If I Delay Starting My Benefits Even If I've Stopped Working?

December 10, 2020

Can Anyone Explain Why My Wife's Benefit Amount For December Is So Much Lower Than Her Benefit Amount For January?

October 20, 2020

Do I Have To Continue Working Between My FRA And Age 70 To Be Eligible For Delayed Retirement Credits?

August 11, 2020

If I Start My Benefits Effective With The Month I Reach Age 70 Will My First Payment Include Credit For Current Year DRCs?

August 9, 2020

Will I Still Get The SS Credits For The Year 2020?

May 26, 2020

Is It Correct That My Benefit Amount Would Be The Same If I Started Drawing Next January Or April?

April 19, 2020

If I Don't Take SS At Age 66 How Much Does It Grow?

March 31, 2020

Would My Check For December 2020 Include Both DRCs And The COLA?

February 26, 2020

Is What Social Security Told Us About My Wife's Extra Credits Correct?

February 22, 2020

How Much Of A Timeline Do I Have To Suspend My Benefits?

February 18, 2020

Is It True That I Won't Immediately Be Credited With 2 Of My DRCs?

January 30, 2020

If I Suspend My Benefits At FRA Which Amount Will The 8% Annual Increase Be Applied To?

December 18, 2019

Is It True That My Benefit Will Increase Now That I've Reached Age 70?

October 10, 2019

Can I Suspend My Benefits When I Reach Full Retirement Age?

October 9, 2019

Is My Understanding Correct?

October 6, 2019

When My Disability Payments Convert At Age 65 Can I Delay Taking It To Increase My Wife's Survivor Rate?

January 3, 2019

Do We Need To File An Appeal To Receive The DRC Increase That My Husband Is Due For 2018?

January 2, 2019

When Should I See My 2018 Delayed Credits Added To My Monthly Payments?

December 4, 2018

Will I Still Get Delayed Retirement Credits If I'm Not Working?

October 22, 2018

Will I Receive My Four Delayed Retirement Credits If I File For My Benefits Effective With January 2019?

October 22, 2018

Does Social Security Owe Me An Additional Amount For DRCs?

August 23, 2019

How Will My Age 70 Rate Be Calculated?

June 19, 2019

Is Someone Who Received SSDI Eligible To Suspend Their SS Payments After FRA In Order To Receive DRCs?

June 9, 2019

How Will My Delayed Retirement Credits Be Calculated?

April 19, 2019

Am I Wrong In Thinking That I Should Receive Delayed Retirement Credits?

June 21, 2018

What Is The Best Month To File To Get The Most Delayed Retirement Credits?

June 18, 2018

Does Anyone Know When Social Security Will Do Recalculations For DRCs?

June 14, 2018

If I File For Benefits At Age 68 & 1/2 Should I Elect To Receive Retroactive Benefits?

June 12, 2018

What Rate Does Social Security Pay Until Your DRCs Are Updated And Paid?

June 11, 2018

Do I Forfeit COLAs If I Wait Until Age 70 To Claim My Benefits?

June 9, 2018

Do I Have Grounds For An Appeal?

June 7, 2018

Is The Information Given Out By SSA Staff Correct?

May 8, 2018

Am I Getting Delayed Retirement Credits On My Record Even Though I'm Receiving Widow's Benefits?

May 1, 2018

Who Is Correct?

May 2, 2018

Can I File For Benefits Early And Still Earn Delayed Retirement Credits Later?

May 2, 2018

Should I Withdraw Or Suspend My Application At This Time?

May 1, 2018

Will I Lose My DRCs If I Didn't File And Suspend At FRA?

April 16, 2018

Why Didn't I Receive An Adjustment In My Benefit Rate For The Last 4 Months Of 2017?

February 28, 2018

What Month Should I Choose In Order To Start Benefits At Age 68?

February 17, 2018

Can Anyone Tell Me For Sure When They Recalculate Delayed Retirement Credits?

January 30, 2018

Will Social Security Also Correct My COLA Amounts When They Add My Delayed Retirement Credits?

January 26, 2018

Isn't This Wrong?

January 26, 2018

How Much Will My Rate Go Up For Each Month That I Wait To Start Collecting My Benefits?

January 26, 2018

Can My Husband File For His Own Benefits In April 2018 And Claim Benefits Retroactive To January 2018?

January 10, 2018

When Can I Expect To See My Full DRC Increase?

December 27, 2017

Can I File For 6 Months Of Retroactive Benefits And Then Immeditately Suspend My Benefits?

December 21, 2017

What's The Best Month To Apply For Delayed Retirement Credits?

December 13, 2017

How Will I Receive My Delayed Retirement Credits?

November 19, 2017

Is It True That I'll Get My Age 68 Rate If I Start Drawing 6 Months Before Then?

October 26, 2017

Can I Avoid A Delay In Receiving Delayed Retirement Credits By Filing Effective With January?

October 17, 2017

Will My Benefit Increase If I Defer Claiming Until Age 70 Even If I Don't Have Income?

October 13, 2017

Can I Get An 8% Increase In My Benefit Rate?

August 14, 2017

Can I Start Drawing My Benefits Now And Then Suspend Them After FRA?

August 7, 2017

Will Waiting Until Age 70 Increase My Rate Even If I Stop Working?

June 28, 2017

Should I Be Entitled To Additional Back Pay?

June 19, 2017

How Can I Avoid Partial Year Delayed Retirement Credits?

June 18, 2017

So Which Is Right (Part II)?

June 17, 2017

So Which Is Right?

June 16, 2017

How Will My Delayed Retirement Credits Be Credited?

May 27, 2017

When Can I Request Voluntarily Suspension Of My Benefits?

May 20, 2017

How Do I Request To Start Receiving My Benefits?

May 11, 2017

Will My Age 70 Benefit Rate Continue To Increase?

May 8, 2017

How And When Are Delayed Retirement Credits Applied?

July 1, 2016

Will My Benefit Really Increase If I Delay Past FRA?

November 6, 2016

Would I Be Eligible To Receive Higher Payments At Age 70?

November 6, 2016

Will My Wife Be Able To Collect A Larger Benefit Because Of My Delayed Retirement Credits?

November 1, 2016

If I File For Benefits In January, Will I Get All Of My Delayed Retirment Credits Immediately?

October 28, 2016

When Will I Get My Delayed Retirement Credits?

October 25, 2016

Do I Need To Do Anything To Earn Delayed Retirement Credits?

October 24, 2016

When Should I Expect To See My Benefit Increase?

October 14, 2016

Why Is My Benefit Amount Lower Than What I Was Told?

October 2, 2016

Can I File For Delayed Retirement Credits Retroactively?

October 1, 2016

Is This Correct?

September 28, 2016

How Can I Get My Correct Delayed Retirement Credits?

September 25, 2016

Do I Have To Keep Working In Order To Receive Delayed Retirement Credits?

September 22, 2016

Why Doesn't My Record Show A Higher Benefit At Age 68 vs. Age 67 & 1/2?

August 23, 2016

Will The Increase I Receive From Delayed Retirement Credits Reduce My Wife's Benefit?

August 19, 2016

When Will I Receive My Delayed Retirement Credits?

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