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Annual COLA for Unearned Income
Social Security/Medicare
Effective January 1, 2025, the Social Security COLA is 2.5%.
YEAR | PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE |
2025 | 2.5 |
2024 | 3.2 |
2023 | 8.7 |
2022 | 5.9 |
2021 | 1.3 |
2020 |
1.6 |
2019 |
2.8 |
2018 |
2.0 |
2017 |
0.3 |
2016 |
0 |
2015 |
1.7 |
2014 |
1.5 |
2013 |
1.7 |
2012 |
3.6 |
2011 |
0 |
2010 |
0 |
2009 |
5.8 |
Railroad Retirement COLA
The Railroad Retirement COLA is variable. There is a two-tier system for benefits. All persons receive Tier I and Tier II increases. The annual Railroad Retirement cost of living increase is received in January.
The 2020 COLA is effective January 1, 2020. See table below.
2020 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT
TIER 1 | TIER II |
1.6% | .5% |
Veteran Affairs (VA) Benefits
The COLA for VA Benefits is decided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index annually.
The 2020 COLA is effective December 1, 2019 and payable in January 1, 2020.
YEAR | PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE |
2020 | 1.6% |
2019 | 2.8% |
2018 | 2.0% |
2017 | 0.3% |
2016 | 0% |
The COLA applies to the following:
- Retired Military Veterans
- VA Pensions, and
- Disability Compensation Payments
Note: VA education allowance increases are variable.
State Teacher’s Retirement
Increases in STRS Benefits are paid at the following intervals:
- The annual cost-of-living increase is received in October.
- Quarterly pension adjustments are received by some persons in January, April, July and October. (Amounts vary.)
PERS
The annual PERS cost-of-living increase is received in May.
Some persons receive quarterly pension adjustments due to the Individual Dividend Disbursement Act, in January, April, July and October. (Amounts vary.)
Civil Service Annuities
The annual Civil Service Annuity cost-of-living increase is received in January.
Related Topics
Proration of First Month Benefits