COLAs
Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and other supplemental allowances are not automatic every year. The Legislature must vote annually on what, if any, COLAs or other allowances will be granted.
Historically, two types of postretirement allowances have been granted by the Legislature:
- A COLA – referred to in statute as a “supplemental allowance” – is a permanent percentage increase to a pension benefit. (Example: A 2% COLA on a $10,000 pension increases the benefit to $10,200; the next year, an additional 2% COLA would increase the pension benefit from $10,200 to $10,404; and so on.)
- A “temporary supplemental allowance” (TSA) is a one-time, lump-sum payment that does not become a permanent addition to the monthly pension benefit.
Learn more about the history of cost-of-living adjustments here.
NHRS COLA History, 1997-2024
| 2024 |
No COLA; $500 TSA for members who retired under accidental (job-related) disability on or before July 1, 2018, or any beneficiary of such member who is receiving a survivor pension benefit; and whose annual retirement allowance on June 30, 2023, was not greater than $50,000. |
| 2023 |
No COLA; $500 TSA for members who retired on or before July 1, 2018, with 20 or more year service, or any beneficiary of such member who is receiving a survivor pension benefit; and whose annual retirement allowance on June 30, 2023, was not greater than $40,000. |
| 2022 |
No COLA; $500 TSA for members who retired on or before July 1, 2017, or any beneficiary of such member who is receiving a survivor pension benefit; and whose annual retirement allowance on June 30, 2022, was not greater than $30,000. |
| 2021 |
No new COLA, but 2019 COLA (see below) phased in monthly through July 2021.
|
| 2020 |
No new COLA, but 2019 COLA (see below) phased in monthly beginning August 2020.
|
| 2019 |
1.5% COLA on the first $50,000 of an annual pension benefit to members who retired on or before July 1, 2014, or any beneficiary of such member who is receiving a survivorship pension benefit. The COLA took effect on the retired member’s first anniversary date of retirement occurring after July 1, 2020. Click here for details.
|
| 2018 |
No COLA
$500 payment to retirees who meet all of the following criteria:
-The member retired with at least 20 years of creditable service;
-The member retired and has been receiving an allowance for at least 5 years prior to July 1, 2018;
-The annual retirement allowance of the member on June 30, 2018, is not greater than $30,000.
|
| 2013-17 |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| 2011-12 |
No COLA
$500/$1K TSA* for political subdivision retirees receiving Medical Subsidy ($300/$600 for Medicare-eligible political subdivision retirees receiving Medical Subsidy)
|
| 2008-10 |
1.5% COLA on first $30K of base pension, plus:
$1K TSA if base pension is less than $20K and retiree had at least 15 years of creditable service
$500 TSA if retired before 1/1/93
- $500/$1K TSA if receiving Medical Subsidy
|
| 2007 |
2.25% |
2.25% |
2.25% |
2.25% |
| 2006 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| 2005 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1.5% |
| 2004 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
2.25% |
| 2003 |
2% |
2% |
2% |
3.5% |
| 2002 |
2% |
3% |
2% |
3% |
| 2001 |
3.5% |
3.5% |
3.5% |
3.5% |
| 2000 |
4.5% |
4.5% |
4.5% |
4.5% |
| 1999 |
4% |
4% |
4% |
4% |
| 1998 |
4% |
4% |
4% |
4% |