If you’ve been getting Social Security benefits for a few months, you probably noticed a 2.5% increase at the start of 2025 due to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
This added about $49 to the average monthly benefit, though you may have gotten more if your checks were higher than average.
Most people receiving Social Security will have to wait until January 2026 for the next increase. But if you’re in one of these three situations, you might get some extra money before the year ends.
1. Social Security Fairness Act Changes
Former President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law during his last days in office.
This law removed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduced benefits for seniors with pensions from employers not covered by Social Security and their family members.
Since the law applies to benefits after December 2023, affected seniors will see a benefit increase starting in April and may also get a one-time retroactive payment before the end of the month.
Not everyone will see a change, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) will notify you if your benefits are increasing.
Workers affected by the WEP could see an average boost of $360 per month, while spouses affected by the GPO could get about $700 more monthly. Widow(er)s may see the largest increase, averaging $1,190 per month.
2. Reaching Full Retirement Age (RFA) if Money Was Withheld Due to The Earnings Test
If you claimed Social Security while working and were under your full retirement age (FRA), some of your benefits may have been withheld due to the earnings test. The FRA is 67 for most workers today.
In 2025, you’ll lose $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over $23,400 if you’re under FRA all year. If you reach FRA in 2025, you can earn up to $62,160 before losing $1 for every $3 over that amount.
The good news is that when you reach FRA, the SSA will adjust your benefits to make up for the withheld money. I
f you hit your FRA this year, your benefit increase may start the month after your birthday since Social Security pays benefits a month after they’re due.
3. Claiming Spousal Benefits if Your Spouse Recently Applied for Social Security
Married people who qualify for Social Security benefits might also be eligible for spousal benefits if their partner qualifies for retirement benefits.
However, you’ll only get the higher of your benefit or the spousal benefit — not both.
A common strategy is for the lower-earning spouse to claim benefits early while the higher-earner delays to maximize their benefit.
Once the higher earner applies, the lower earner can switch to a spousal benefit if it’s higher than their current payment.
If your spouse recently signed up for Social Security, you may see a boost in your monthly checks. However, you may need to contact the SSA to make this change.
If none of these apply to you, you’ll likely have to wait until January for another increase. For now, expect your checks to stay about the same.
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