Ed Zurndorfer explains how CSRS and FERS cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, with 2026 numbers and real-world examples — plus how COLAs affect survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits.
FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System)
Federal Retiree COLA History: CSRS COLA and FERS COLA
See every CSRS and FERS COLA since 1999, and how the two are calculated differently.
Federal Retiree COLAs Could Be Higher Under Different Inflation Index, Report Says
A new Congressional Research Service report is renewing debate over whether retirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) should be based on how retirees actually spend their money instead of the inflation experienced by working households. While the report finds that a retiree-focused inflation index would have generally produced slightly higher COLAs over the past four decades, no changes to federal law are currently under consideration. Here’s what federal employees and retirees need to know about the proposal, why it matters, and whether it could affect future COLAs.
[Checklist] What Every Federal Employee Should Review in Their OPF Before Retirement
Your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) plays an important role in your federal retirement. Learn what documents to review, when to review them, how to identify potential issues before you retire, and download the free OPF Retirement Review Checklist to help make sure your personnel records are complete
OPM Retirement Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Federal Employees
Most federal employees know they have to submit a retirement application, but few understand what happens after they do. This step-by-step guide explains what happens after you submit your paperwork, how your agency and OPM process your application, what interim payments are, common causes of delays, and what you can do to help ensure a smoother transition into retirement.
Will OPM Workforce Cuts Affect Future Federal Retirement Processing?
The Office of Personnel Management has reduced its workforce by approximately 35% while continuing to modernize its retirement processing system. Learn what these staffing changes could mean for federal employees planning to retire, current retirees, and the future of retirement application processing.
Understanding Social Security’s Financial Future: A Guide for Federal Employees and Retirees
Social Security isn’t disappearing, but it does face long-term financial challenges. This guide explains what the projected depletion of the trust fund reserves really means, what the 2026 Trustees Report says, and how it could affect federal employees and retirees.
FERS High-3 Average Salary: How It’s Calculated and Why It Matters
Your high-3 average salary is one of the most important factors used to calculate your FERS pension — but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Learn what counts as basic pay, how OPM determines your highest consecutive 36 months of earnings, common mistakes to avoid, and how your high-3 affects your retirement income. Includes practical examples and a FERS High-3 Estimator Worksheet.
How the Survivor Benefit Plan Works for You (…or Does It?)
One of the most important—and most misunderstood—decisions you’ll make before retiring is whether to elect a survivor benefit for your spouse. While reducing your monthly pension may seem costly, the wrong decision could leave your surviving spouse without a lifetime income or even the ability to continue FEHB health insurance. Chris Kowalik explains how the Survivor Benefit Plan works, what it costs, who should consider it, and the key tradeoffs every federal employee should understand before making this often irrevocable election
OPM Finalizes Major Changes to Federal Employee Performance Appraisals: What Employees 5–10 Years from Retirement Should Know
While the new rule (effective August 6, 2026) does not change federal retirement benefits, it could influence career progression, promotions, and performance awards during the final years of a federal career. For employees who are five to ten years from retirement, those indirect effects may be worth paying attention to because salary earned during those years can influence future retirement income. This guide outlines the five major changes, what has not changed, describes any impact on an employee’s retirement, and provides insight on maximizing the value of the years that remain before retirement.