Retired Municipal Employees

  • Municipal Employees (General employees and Police & Fire employees) in plans offering COLA who retired on or before 6/30/2012 are eligible for 2025 COLA*
    • These retirees will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • General Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired on or after 7/1/2012 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.
    • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 55, whichever is later.
    • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired after 7/1/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 50, whichever is later.
    • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
    • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Most eligible members receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reach their COLA eligibility based on their on their AGE – either their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) or age 50 or 55 - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA or birthdate.
    • Note that for members with retirement dates in December who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).

*with the exception of retirees who were not receiving COLA by 6/30/2012 and who have not yet reached their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA).