How to use this calculator
Select your payment type, then enter your current annual gross payment and the COLA percentage. The calculator instantly shows your new gross payment and the dollar increase both annually and monthly.
Toggle on multi-year projection to see how your payment grows over time if the same COLA rate were applied each year. This is a hypothetical illustration since actual COLA rates change annually, but it helps with long-term planning.
Use the preset buttons to quickly apply recent Social Security COLA rates (2025: 2.5%, 2024: 3.2%, 2023: 8.7%) without looking them up.
Frequently asked questions
What is a COLA?
A cost of living adjustment is a percentage increase applied to benefits and pensions to help them keep pace with inflation. The most well known COLA is the Social Security adjustment, announced each October and applied to January payments.
Why is my deposit different from the gross increase?
Your gross payment gets the full COLA, but deductions like Medicare Part B premiums, federal tax withholding, and supplemental insurance are subtracted before your deposit is issued. If those deductions increase, your net deposit increase will be smaller than the gross COLA.
Do FERS pensions get the full COLA?
Not always. FERS retirees receive the full COLA only when it is 2% or less. When the COLA exceeds 2%, FERS retirees receive 1 percentage point less than the announced rate. CSRS retirees receive the full COLA regardless of the percentage.
When is the next COLA announced?
The Social Security Administration announces the next year's COLA in October, based on third-quarter CPI-W data. The adjustment takes effect with January payments, which arrive in February for most recipients.
Can the COLA be zero?
Yes. If the CPI-W does not increase from the measurement period, the COLA is 0%. This happened in 2010, 2011, and 2016. Benefits never decrease due to a negative CPI-W reading, but they can stay flat.