Retire Kept

FERS COLA 2027: 2.6%. CSRS COLA 2027: 3.6%

Federal retirees get a raise with the January 4, 2027 payment: 3.6% under CSRS and 2.6% under FERS. Most FERS retirees get it only if they're 62 or older.

System2027 COLAFirst paid
CSRS and CSRS Offset3.6%January 4, 2027
FERS and FERS special provisions2.6%January 4, 2027
Social Security (for comparison)3.6%January 2027

Why FERS gets less

CSRS COLAs match inflation, measured the same way as Social Security's. FERS COLAs are capped by a "diet COLA" rule:

Inflation (CPI-W)FERS COLA
2% or lessSame as inflation
More than 2%, up to 3%2%
More than 3%Inflation minus 1 point

For 2027 inflation was 3.6%, so FERS gets 3.6% − 1 = 2.6%.

Who gets the FERS COLA

  • 62 or older: yes.
  • Under 62: generally no, until you turn 62. The exceptions are disability retirees, survivors, and special-provision retirees such as law enforcement officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers.
  • The FERS supplement never gets a COLA.
  • A CSRS part of a FERS annuity follows CSRS COLA rules.

Retired in 2026?

If your annuity started during the year, your first COLA is prorated: one-twelfth of the increase for each month you received benefits. OPM's COLA page lists the exact proration by start month.

Estimate your annuity with the FERS retirement calculator. For Social Security's 2027 raise, see Social Security COLA 2027.

Questions

What is the FERS COLA for 2027?

2.6%. Because inflation was more than 3%, the FERS COLA is the CSRS COLA minus 1 percentage point. It is effective December 1, 2026 and first paid in the January 4, 2027 payment.

What is the CSRS COLA for 2027?

3.6%, the same as the Social Security COLA. It is effective December 1, 2026 and first paid on January 4, 2027.

Do FERS retirees under 62 get a COLA?

Generally no. Regular FERS retirees get COLAs only from age 62. Disability retirees, survivors and special-provision retirees such as law enforcement officers and firefighters are exceptions. The FERS supplement never gets a COLA.

Updated November 6, 2026. Sources: OPM, Annuity Payments (2027 COLA); OPM, How is the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) determined?; OPM CSRS/FERS Handbook, Chapter 2: Cost-of-Living Adjustments. Not affiliated with OPM.