Proposed legislation would change how the Social Security raise is calculated, but not how your federal annuity raise is calculated. Here is who it would help, what it could add each month, and what the bill leaves unfixed for FERS and CSRS retirees.
CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System)
The 2027 COLA: What Federal Retirees Can Expect and When
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is official: 3.6% for Social Security and CSRS retirees, and 2.6% for eligible FERS retirees. This guide covers when the increase takes effect, how to see the new amount in a my Social Security or OPM online account, why Medicare and health insurance changes reduce the net increase, and the key dates to watch between now and the first higher payment in January.
2027 CSRS / FERS COLA Announced for Federal Retirees
The Social Security Administration has announced a larger cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, up from this year’s increase. CSRS retirees and Social Security beneficiaries get the full amount, but FERS retirees age 62 and older get a lower COLA under the FERS reduction formula. Use the included free COLA calculator on this page to enter your annuity and see your own increase in dollars, plus how much of it is left after the projected 2027 Medicare Part B premium and your 2027 FEHB premium change.
2027 COLA Calculator for Federal Retirees (CSRS and FERS)
This free online calculator for federal retirees shows what the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) means for your Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity, and how much of the increase is left after the Medicare Part B premium and your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premium change
2027 FERS / CSRS COLA: Estimate Narrows Ahead of October Announcement
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is one inflation report away from becoming official. With two of the three months that count toward the calculation already in hand, see where the major forecasters stand, what September’s CPI-W report still has to answer, and when the Social Security Administration is expected to announce the final number — plus what it means for FERS retirees under the reduced “diet COLA” formula.
Federal Employee Pay Raises vs. Retiree COLAs: How Each Is Determined
The federal employee pay raise and the retiree cost-of-living adjustment are determined differently and rarely land on the same number — here’s why, and what it means for retirement income planning.
2027 CSRS / FERS / Social Security COLA Estimate
Fresh inflation data has forecasters pulling in different directions on the 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment. One major advocacy group lowered its estimate this month, while another raised its own — with two other independent forecasters landing lower still. See the range of estimates, what’s driving this summer’s inflation numbers, and what the outcome would mean for the both the CSRS and FERS annuity adjustments.
Federal Retirement Application Checklist: The Errors OPM Says Cause the Most Delays
Federal employees can’t control how fast OPM works through its retirement backlog, but they can control whether their own application is complete and error-free. From OPM’s official guidance, this guide walks through the documentation, forms, and common mistakes that most often delay processing under OPM’s Online Retirement Application (ORA) system. A companion checklist is available to download and work through before submitting your application.
Some CSRS Retirees May Still Be Missing Social Security Back Pay
If you have a CSRS pension and never applied for a Social Security spousal or survivor benefit because the Government Pension Offset would have reduced it to zero, that’s worth revisiting now. A new August 2026 Congressional Research Service report confirms that SSA’s six-month retroactivity limit for new applicants isn’t changing anytime soon, despite pushback from senators. The message: don’t wait for the policy to shift — every month you delay a claim is a month of back pay you can’t recover.
Lump-Sum Payment Upon the Death of a Former CSRS Employee or CSRS Offset Employee
If a former CSRS or CSRS Offset employee dies after leaving federal service but before applying for deferred retirement, no survivor annuity is payable — instead, a lump-sum death benefit goes to the named beneficiary or, if none was designated, follows OPM’s order of precedence. Ed Zurndorfer explains how the process works and what family members need to file.