Generally speaking, to qualify for Social Security benefits in retirement, you need to work and pay into the program.
Social Security's primary source of funding is payroll taxes. By holding down a job and earning work credits -- specifically 40 in your lifetime -- you can eventually become eligible for retirement benefits that you can claim beginning at age 62.
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Of course, if you want your Social Security benefits without a reduction, you're required to wait until full retirement age to sign up. But once you turn 62, if you have enough work credits, those benefits are yours to start taking.
But what if you never worked, or only worked very part-time during your lifetime? It may be that you were running your household or caring for others and never really had a chance to spend a meaningful amount of time in the labor force.
Some people opt out of working while raising kids, only to then have to care for aging parents. So it's easy to see why plans to have a career may have fallen by the wayside through no fault of your own.
The good news is that you may be entitled to Social Security spousal benefits in that situation. This holds true if you're married to someone who's eligible for Social Security, or divorced from someone who's eligible and you meet certain criteria.
If you're collecting spousal benefits from Social Security, you may be wondering if the program's upcoming cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will apply to your monthly benefits. Here's what you need to know.
Spousal benefits are eligible for COLAs, too
The purpose of Social Security COLAs is to help ensure that benefits are able to keep pace with inflation as living costs rise from year to year. In 2025, seniors on Social Security got a 2.5% COLA. But in 2026, Social Security recipients are getting a 2.8% COLA.
If you're receiving spousal benefits from Social Security, you, too, are entitled to a COLA. However, spousal benefits max out at 50% of a spouse or ex-spouse's benefit at their full retirement age. So if you're getting smaller benefits to begin with, it means you're probably also looking at a smaller raise in the new year.
Don't expect your upcoming COLA to go very far
As of August 2025, the most recent month for which data is available, the average Social Security spousal benefit was about $955. This means that when we apply a 2.8% COLA, the typical spousal benefit recipient is only getting a roughly $27 boost to their monthly checks. And that doesn't even take Medicare Part B increases into account, which commonly eat away at seniors' COLAs.
If you're worried about keeping up with your expenses in 2026, you shouldn't rely on your Social Security COLA to improve your outlook -- whether you receive benefits based on your own earnings record or spousal benefits. A better bet is to take steps to improve your financial picture.
Those steps could include:
- Budgeting carefully to reduce extra spending
- Downsizing to a less expensive home
- Using your home as an income source by renting out a room, or even your driveway for parking
- Relocating to a more affordable part of the country
- Working to supplement your Social Security checks, whether via a part-time job or gig work
Spousal benefits may not pay as much as traditional Social Security retirement benefits. But if you're getting spousal benefits, rest assured that you're eligible for a COLA in 2026 like everyone else. Just don't expect too much extra buying power to come of it. Instead, take matters into your own hands to boost your finances.
