Every year, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated from inflation and applied to federal pensions, and some years the result is zero. The amount also depends on the retirement system. Retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) often get a smaller COLA than those under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). This page lists every COLA since 1989 side by side, including the years with no increase, and shows how a small yearly difference adds up. In a simple example, a $1,000-a-month pension that started receiving COLAs in 1999 would pay about $249 more a month today with CSRS COLAs than with FERS COLAs.
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2027 FEHB Plan Types: How to Choose Your Health Plan
FEHB open season runs through December 14, 2026, and choosing among plan types is not simple. In this guide, Ed Zurndorfer explains how Fee-for-Service, PPO, HMO, Point of Service, Consumer Driven and High-Deductible plans differ in cost, provider choice and paperwork. It also covers the 2027 HDHP deductible and out-of-pocket limits and includes a side-by-side summary to help employees and retirees match a plan to their medical needs.
Federal Employees and Retirees Should Review Dental Insurance Choices
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses why employees, annuitants, and survivor annuitants are encouraged to review their options as to how to pay their dental expenses
OPM Retirement Backlog Rises for the First Time Since February
OPM’s retirement application backlog rose to 10,606 in October 2026, its first increase since February. Processing times edged up to 73 days. Learn what this means if you are retiring in the near future.
2027 Thrift Savings Plan Maximum Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments affecting 2027 TSP contribution limits — as well as dollar limitations for traditional and Roth IRAs and other retirement-related items…
10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Life Insurance
Ed Zurndorfer outlines errors individuals often make when purchasing and owning a life insurance policy
2025 Health Insurance Plan Options & Comparison Tools
Get the latest the official information online for the 2024 plan year of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Dental and vision (FEDVIP) details are also available...
Your Federal Health Benefits & Medicare: Helpful Resources from OPM
The Office of Personnel Management offers several resources for federal employees and retirees regarding Medicare and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program...
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Understand what the cost-of-living adjustment is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits...
10 Biggest Mistakes Federal Employees Make When Planning for Retirement (and How to Avoid Them)
Learn the 10 biggest federal retirement planning mistakes that many employees make before leaving civil service including CSRS, FERS, Thrift Savings Plan...
Federal Retirement Planning Checklists
Checklists for 5-10 years from retirement, one year away from retirement, and for your first year after retirement...