What changed: OPM's 2027 COLA table shows how much 2026 retirees get in their first increase

Published October 29, 2026 · By the OnPAR Federal Retirement Education editorial team · Last updated October 29, 2026

Short answer: If your FERS annuity started during 2026, your first cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the January 4, 2027 payment will be smaller than the full 2.6%. OPM gives you one-twelfth of the COLA for each month your annuity was payable before the increase took effect on December 1, 2026. For example, an annuity that started in July 2026 gets 1.1%. Regular FERS retirees who were under 62 on December 1, 2026 get no COLA at all this year. Special-provision, disability and survivor annuitants generally are exceptions.

What changed

OPM has posted its official proration table for the COLA that takes effect December 1, 2026. Only annuities that began by December 31, 2025 get the full 2.6% (FERS) or 3.6% (CSRS). Everyone who started in 2026 gets a partial increase based on the month their annuity began:

Source: OPM's 2027 COLA page. If you have a CSRS component (CSRS service before you switched to FERS), that part of your annuity gets the CSRS rate instead, prorated the same way: for example, 1.5% for a July 2026 start (CSRS rate 3.6%).

Who it affects

• New 2026 retirees who are 62 or older. You get a prorated COLA in January 2027, and the full COLA every year after that.
• Special-provision retirees (such as law enforcement officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers). You get COLAs before 62, so your first one is prorated this year even if you're in your 50s.
• Disability retirees. They also get COLAs before 62, so the same table applies. OPM's exception: no COLA while the disability annuity is being paid at 60% of high-3.
• Survivors. Survivor annuities get COLAs too, but the law counts months differently (it can include the months the deceased retiree's annuity was paid). Check OPM's COLA notice.
• Regular FERS retirees under 62. That includes MRA+30, 60 with 20, MRA+10, early-out (VERA) and discontinued service retirements. If you were under 62 on December 1, 2026, the law says no COLA this year (5 U.S.C. 8462(c)(3)). So a regular retiree who turns 62 on December 15, 2026, misses this one.
• Not affected: anyone whose annuity began by December 31, 2025, and was 62 or older (or a COLA exception) on December 1, 2026. You get the full 2.6%.

How the proration works

• One-twelfth per month. The law counts the months your annuity was payable before December 1, up to 12. A partial month counts as a full month. Then it rounds the result to the nearest 0.1% (5 U.S.C. 8462(c)(1)).
• The month your annuity "began" is usually the month after you retire. For voluntary and early-out (VERA) retirements, including special provisions, the annuity starts the first day of the month after you separate. Discontinued-service and disability annuities can start the day after separation (5 U.S.C. 8464). So a June 30 voluntary retirement is a July 2026 start in the table. OPM's own example is an annuity that began November 30, 2026: it gets 1/12.
• Rounded down to the dollar, but at least $1. After the COLA, your monthly annuity is rounded down to the next lowest dollar. The increase is always at least $1 (5 U.S.C. 8462(d)).
• When you'll see it. The COLA takes effect December 1, 2026, and shows up in the payment made January 4, 2027. OPM says it sends a notice explaining your increase.

Worked examples (using OPM's official 2027 rates)

Example 1: Law enforcement retiree, age 54. Marco retired June 30, 2026, so his annuity began in July 2026. His gross annuity is $3,400 a month.

• Rate from the table: July 2026 = 1.1%.
• Increase: $3,400 × 1.1% = $37.40.
• New monthly annuity: $3,437.40, rounded down to $3,437 starting January 4, 2027.
• With a full year: if his annuity had begun by December 2025, the 2.6% COLA would have added $88.40 a month.

Example 2: Regular retiree, age 63. Linda retired March 31, 2026, so her annuity began in April 2026. Her gross annuity is $2,150 a month.

• Rate: April 2026 = 1.7%, so the increase is $36.55.
• New monthly annuity: $2,186.55, rounded down to $2,186.

Example 3: MRA+30 retiree, age 58. Dave's annuity began in February 2026. He was under 62 on December 1, 2026, so he gets no COLA in January 2027, even though the table shows 2.2% for February.

These are examples only. OPM figures your actual increase, and your net payment also depends on health premiums and tax withholding.

What to do next

• Retiring at the end of 2026? If you retire voluntarily on December 31, 2026, your annuity starts January 1, 2027. That is after the December 1, 2026 effective date, so you won't get this COLA. Your first one will be the December 2027 COLA, prorated at 11/12 (January through November 2027), assuming a COLA is paid in 2027 and you're eligible for COLAs by then. Factor that in when you compare retirement dates.
• Check the January payment. Compare your January 4, 2027 payment and OPM's COLA notice against the table above. Your net payment can also change in January because of 2027 health premiums and tax withholding.
• Run your numbers: the FERS Retirement Calculator shows your pension, supplement and TSP on one page. The Retirement Date & MRA calculator helps you compare dates, and the Pension calculator estimates your annuity.
• Read more: How FERS COLAs work, the 2027 COLA and Open Season, and special provisions for LEO and firefighters.

Official sources

• OPM: Cost-of-Living Adjustments, effective December 1, 2026 (rates and prorated tables)
• OPM: Cost-of-living adjustments FAQ (2027 rates)
• 5 U.S.C. 8464, Commencement of annuities (GovInfo)
• 5 U.S.C. 8462, Cost-of-living adjustments (GovInfo)
• SSA: 2027 COLA announcement, Oct 14, 2026