OPM Announces 2026 COLA Increase: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) gives out cost-of-living adjustments called COLA to federal workers and retirees. These increases help people handle rising costs for things like food, rent, and healthcare. In 2026, a bigger increase is expected because prices have gone up a lot over time.
Not everyone will get the same raise, the once who gets how much depends on the kind of job, where someone works, and their role. Some groups, like security and law enforcement workers, get special higher rates because their jobs are tougher and riskier.
Who Qualifies for COLA 2026?
The COLA mainly applies to retired federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Social Security beneficiaries and people in other federal programs also benefit from the adjustment. Active employees usually do not receive COLA directly but they may get separate pay adjustments through their agencies. .
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Special Increases for Security Personnel
The OPM has announced new special rates for 2026 that apply to law enforcement and security employees. These increases are meant to reward the high-risk work these people do. Agents of the FBI, US Marshals, ATF, and border security officers are among those who will benefit. The adjustments recognize the unique challenges and demands faced by these employees while ensuring their pay remains competitive.
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How the COLA is Determined?
The COLA increase for 2026 will be decided based on something called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which the Department of Labor checks.
Experts think it will be more than 3%, but the exact number will only come out in late 2025. This rise is meant to help retirees and Social Security people keep their money’s value even when prices go up. If you want to see if you get this increase, you can check on the official OPM website or ask your human resources office.
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