UPDATE: 2010 Federal Retiree COLA

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By MyFederalRetirement
Posted: 05-27-2009


For the first time in nearly 30 years, there might be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security recipients in 2010, 2011 and 2012, according to a recent prediction by the Congressional Budget Office.

This news has understandably caused a major concern among federal retirees and active federal employees with a retirement date on the horizon.

Is the COLA a raise?

As Andrew Biggs discusses in this article in today's Baltimore Sun, the annual Social Security adjustment was never intended as a "raise."

"It's true that most seniors have never faced a year without a COLA, but that's only because they've never experienced a year without inflation - which is what the Congressional Budget Office says is what's happening now," reports Biggs. The column provides some detail of how COLAs work in relationship with the Consumer Price Index.

Feds Might Be Better Off Than Others

Last week, Mike Causey on FederalNewsRadio.com, provided insight in this column of how -- even in light of a zero 2010 COLA for federal retirees -- that the retired fed likely will have it much better than most retired nonfeds.

Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs

What are they and how are they calculated? To read this guide to federal retiree COLAs from My Federal Retirement columnist Edward Zurndorfer, click here.

Posted with permission from: MyFederalRetirement.com