Effective Dates: 10/15/2001 - Present Previous | Next

GN PHI02608.400 COLAS for Federal Retirees

NOTE: This POMS section applies to months of entitlement prior to January 2024 only. The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023 eliminated the reduction of Social Security benefits under GPO as of January 2024. For more information, see GN 02608.100.

See GN 02608.400

A. TABLE OF FERS COLAS FOR FEDERAL RETIREES

Effective Date

Year

Amount of Increase

December 1

1997

2.0

December 1

1996

2.0

March 1

1996

2.0

March 1

1995

2.0

March 1

1994

2.0

 

1993

0.0

December 1

1992

2.0

December 1

1991

2.7

December 1

1990

4.4

December 1

1989

3.7

December 1

1988

3.0

December 1

1987

3.2

B. TABLE OF CSRS COLAS FOR FEDERAL RETIREES

Effective Date

Year

Amount of Increase

December 1

1997

2.1

December 1

1996

2.9

March 1

1996

2.6

March 1

1995

2.8

March 1

1994

2.6

 

1993

0.0

December 1

1992

3.0

December 1

1991

3.7

December 1

1990

5.4

December 1

1989

4.7

December 1

1988

4.0

December 1

1987

4.2

December 1

1986

1.3

December 1

1985

0.0

December 1

1984

3.5

April 1

1983

3.9 *

March 1

1982

8.7

March 1

1981

4.4

September 1

1980

7.7

March 1

1980

6.0

September 1

1979

6.9

March 1

1979

3.9

September 1

1978

4.9

March 1

1978

2.4

September 1

1977

4.3

March 1

1977

4.8

March 1

1976

5.4

August 1

1975

5.1

January 1

1975

7.3

July 1

1974

6.3

January 1

1974

5.5

July 1

1973

6.1

July 1

1972

4.8

June 1

1971

4.5

August 1

1970

5.6

November 1

1969

5.0

March 1

1969

3.9

May 1

1968

3.9

January 1

1967

3.9

* 3.3 for non-disabled employee annuitants under age 62.

C. GENERAL REMINDERS

  1. 1. 

    The percentage increase in the CS pension is rounded down to the next lower dollar amount.

  2. 2. 

    The full cost-of-living increase is not given to persons entitled to the civil service annuity for less than a full year. The beneficiary or OPM should be contacted to determine the appropriate increase.

  3. 3. 

    When an exemption to GPO applies, an "N" must be posted to the MBR per GN 02608.301B.

  4. 4. 

    The following are general rules for figuring FERS COLAs for federal retirees:

  • •

    If the CSRS COLA is under 2.0 , then the FERS COLA is the same as the CSRS COLA.

  • •

    If the CSRS COLA is between 2.0 and 3.0 , then the FERS COLA is 2.0 .

  • •

    If the CSRS COLA is over 3.0 , then the FERS COLA is 1 less than the CSRS COLA.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202608400PHI
GN PHI02608.400 - COLAS for Federal Retirees - 10/15/2001
Batch run: 09/12/2025
Rev:10/15/2001