OPERS announces 2021 cost-of-living adjustment
Based on Consumer Price Index, some retirees will see a 0.50% increase
By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Sept. 4, 2020 – OPERS has announced the cost-of-living adjustments that will be available for retirees in 2021.
Those whose retirement effective date is prior to Jan. 7, 2013, will continue to receive a 3 percent adjustment.
Retirees whose effective date of retirement is on or after Jan. 7, 2013, are scheduled to have next year’s COLA based on the CPI-W, the government’s inflation index for urban wage earners and clerical workers. According to state law, the annual COLA for these retirees is to be based on the change in the CPI-W index from the end of June 2019 to the end of June this year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the CPI-W index increased 0.50 percent over that period. (For reference, click on “CPI-W, June 2020” on this page of the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and refer to cell AD-7 in the spreadsheet.) Thus, the COLA issued in 2021 to retirees with an effective retirement date on or after Jan. 7, 2013, will be 0.50 percent.
OPERS’ inflation-based COLA uses the same index as Social Security. But the time period measured is different, so the adjustments might not always match up.
Michael Pramik
Michael Pramik is communication strategist for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and editor of the PERSpective blog. As an experienced business journalist, he clarifies complex pension policies and helps members make smart choices to secure their retirement.
Would those who retired in 2020 see the this .50% COLA in their benefit in 2021?
I thought there is a 2 year freeze for COLA for those who retired in 2020?
Kingsley,
That is a proposal for 2022 and 2023. For 2021, the COLAs will be as listed in the blog.
— Ohio PERS
What is the status of OPERS proposed freezing of the 2022 and 2023 cost of living increases and additional changes to the current COLA rules? Is OPERS’ COLA changes proposal still stuck in a legislative committee? If so, does OPERS expect its proposal to be enacted into law by the Ohio General Assembly, or does it expect the Ohio General Assembly not to act on it, like it did not act on OPERS’ previous attempt to change its COLA rules?
Arnold,
The OPERS Board of Trustees approved a proposal last year to suspend the COLA for 2022 and 2023, then return the adjustment to current levels. The proposal requires passage by the Ohio General Assembly. As of this date, no related bill has been introduced in the legislature.
Could you put your request for 2022 and 2023 off for now? Who would have thought a year ago that inflation would be as bad as it has been since January 2021? All signs point to it only getting worse. We cannot afford a frozen income for two years the way things are going now.
Amen, I am trying to be respectful but who is really representing our retirees. It doesn’t appear that they are even concerned about the hardship this would cause.
For urban wage earners and clerical workers ONLY. How did that happen.
Stacy,
The Social Security Administration uses the CPI-W to determine raises for Social Security retirement recipients, so it’s got a track record of usage for retiree benefits.
The CPI-E is an index that tracks households whose reference person or spouse is 62 or older. But it’s an experimental index that’s not widely used for policymaking. Also, the average age at which OPERS members retire is 57, so the index wouldn’t represent their experience.
Further, it doesn’t always yield a bigger percentage increase. For instance, when OPERS re-issued its first inflation-based COLA for 2019, the CPI-W came in at 3.09 percent, the CPI-E was 2.79 percent, and the CPI-U, another common inflation measure, was 2.87 percent.
–Ohio PERS
Thank God for our OPERS Pension plan, without it we’d be homeless. God bless you all.
Mr Pramik, I count my blessings every day that I have the great retirement package that I do. My heart goes out to people that are not as blessed as I am.
I realize I was fortunate to have had the job I had and made all the right decisions during my tenure working. I started out as secretary and worked my way up through the ranks, learning every job I could, and stepping in when needed. When I retired 20 years ago, I was a supervisor over 10 women. I truly loved my job.
Thx for keeping OPERS afloat.
What is the status, going forward and beyond 2021 of changing the pre Jan. 7 2013 cola? In other words will those categories of retirees continue to receive 3% or is OPERS still trying to change the COLA in those cases. And, will those pre Jan. 7 2013 retirees that did NOT opt for the 3% (vs. the traditional COLA) receive 3%. As I recall, those of us who retired prior to the Jan. 7 cutoff could choose between the a continuing 3% COLA or standard COLA. If OPERS is not persuing a change for the 3% whey did they switch positions?
Thomas,
As of today, those retirees with an effective retirement date of Jan. 7, 2013, or later have their COLAs based on the CPI-W. Everyone else receives a 3 percent COLA.
This is robbery! 2021 .5% for some and 3% for the majority! Nothing for 2 years after and back to 3% except the minority! I don’t want to hear any of you who retired before 2013 complain about anything! I used to think millennials were the entitled generation!
Totally agree with Jack D. A COLA increase of .50 versus a COLA increase of 3% — that surely does not seem fair and just!
it is a declining Cola. After 10 years, the 3% becomes 2.3% and after 20 years the annual increase is 1.9% They get you either way. Every year the cola goes down. That is better than ,5% of course
That 3 percent increase is way better than the cola increase. Cola increase ( if you can call .5 percent an increase) is like $15 max a month. I’ll try and not spend it all at one time.
People retiring after 2013 deserve a baseline COLA rate
that PERS cannot go bellow. Even if it’s less, it should never go below 1.5%. If the annual index is .50 add that to a baseline of 1.5 to equal 2.0 ! If the index goes up to 2.0 , give us a max of 3.0%. Less but more fair …
That’s not fair
Especially for those who are disabled and have no other income. My expenses have gone up nearly 8%, not including my property taxes. At this rate, I will be homeless. That is no joke. Disablility and those who have come later must be treated better.
Thank you for all of the difficult work you do! In these trying times, this is much needed good news!
Why are you thanking OPERS?
OPERS is trying to get the Ohio Legislature to approve a two year COLA freeze for years 2022 & 2023, and then all retirees will get a o% COLA for two straight years.
I am not thanking OPERS because in 2021 we all are getting the COLA we are entitled to based on the retirement system in place on the date we retired. For those who retired prior to 01/07/2013 it is 3.0%. For those who retired after 01/07/2013 it is based on the CPI.
I feel for those less fortunate who do not receive a cola at all.
Do I understand correctly-some people will go from percent to a half percent-a loss of 2.5%?
Linda,
That’s not the case. Those with a retirement effective date of Jan. 7, 2013, or later will receive a 0.50 percent COLA. All others will receive a 3 percent adjustment.
I am a surviving spouse of a 30 year ODOT retiree….so very thankful for OPERS and their management of the pension fund!
Why doesn’t Opers do the same month to month time frame to figure cola as Social security?
Jim,
The time frame that is written into Ohio law for the OPERS COLA gives us enough time to implement the following year’s adjustment. We cannot comment on the Social Security Administration’s procedures.
What if the SS cola is more than what Opers is giving?
Jim,
It’s true that our inflation-based COLA might not match that of Social Security, even though we both use the same index. What if the Social Security COLA is less than ours? We made this decision years in advance and made it public, and it’s now in Ohio law.
I retired after 2013 and I find this incredibly unfair. I understand that those who retired before 1/07/2013 were promised 3% increases, but I don’t feel that people who worked after that and put more money into the fund should be penalized. The ones who are getting the most (the 3%) are for the most part the ones who contributed less than those who are only getting .5%.
What a joke a whole one half of ONE percent. Why not just do what you really want to do and freeze everyone who retired after 2012? This is an insult.
You are absolutely right.
There is give and take in all situations in order to extend or save the Pension fund for all employees currently working or retired. I feel OPERS does a decent job in managing the Pension Fund.
Let me guess — you retired before1/07/2013, right? Give and take should be equal — one group shouldn’t get more benefit than another if the point is saving the pension fund for “all employees currently working or retired”. Either give everybody 3% or give everybody .50 %. Promises or not it is unfair to give more to some and less to others.
Totally agree with Ms. Jackson. Either give everyone 3% or give everyone .50%. Just think of the money OPERS could if everyone would get .50% COLA — perhaps the funds deposited to our HRA wouldn’t continue to decrease!!
Here’s the deal, as simple as I can make it. Pre 2013 retirees were given the CHOICE…take the 3% or a indexed COLA. And note that by taking the 3% there was absolutely no guarantee that we would come out better than the alternative of a regular COLA. And, keep in mind that the 3% is based on salary at TIME OF RETIREMENT; it is NOT based on 3% every year….thus in time it is less than 3%. When inflation rages again…and it will in time…the 3% may look like a foolish choice and, in aggregate over time, be less than a traditional COLA.
Thomas,
Just to note, state law caps the OPERS COLA at 3 percent.
Well put
Hi. Many of us who retired in 2012 did so to ensure the 3 percent COLA. Had that not been what OPERS was saying, many of us wouldn’t have retired at that point but would have continued working, increasing both final salary and years of service. It doesn’t feel right to change the rules after so many made a decision based on what OPERS was saying.
Give everyone .50 and save the HRA funds!!
But yet I retired when I did based on what PERS said at that time but they have and are changing the rules on me and others like me. I complained in person to PERS but was politely told tuff noogies. I too am blessed to be retired when I did, but like others have said, if it’s to save our retirement as a whole, then let’s be totally fair. As for the older retirees, your time will be coming too as things get worse .
Those of us who receive the 3% cola were not “given” this; we chose it given a choice between 3% and an indexed cola. This option was made available to all employees at the time. Further, as noted in another comment the 3% is not compounded. It will forever be only on our base retirement. In fact, in coming years that 3% could well be less in dollar amounts than the amount we would receive if we had opted instead for a standard variable COLA. OPERS needs to do a better job of explaining this for those who think we “3 percenters were just given 3% and did not choose it and assume the risk of making a bad choice.
I would like to add that the post-2012 retirees were given years of advanced notice to the COLA changes. This allowed them to add more to an additional annuity, deferred compensation or extend their employment years. The pre-2012 retirees cannot go back and do any of those things. Nor can we get back the jobs we retired from, earn the same salary and add service credits. To change the rules for the pre-2012 retirees after it is too late is unconscionable.
I agree ?.
How do you figure that? Just because you worked past 2013 doesn’t mean you worked longer. The people that retired before 2013 started working earlier. I retired in 2012 and started working and paying into OPERS in 1979. That’s 33 years. I paid my share Suzanne.
I would like to remind everyone that the pre-2012 retirees only got a 3% COLA the first year after retirement. It is not compounded. The actual percentage rate goes down every year. Nobody is receiving an actual 3% anymore.
You are so right! That 3% is now 1.5 %. So, I wish retirees who don’t know the 3% is given only the first year would understand that in a couple more years, that 3% will be below 1%!
All retirees are in the same boat there should be no difference as to who gets what percentage of a raise it should be uniform across the board we should all get 3%… We have worked a lifetime under OPERS and we all deserve it do not distinguish between us united we stand
If the COLA freeze proposal is enacted those who retired from 2013 to the present will receive a .5% increase in 2021 and then no increase until 2024.
I feel very lucky to have OPERS Pension and receive the 3% (1.5%) COLA. I have been retired almost 19 years. Almost all plans in the private sector are 401K’s with a little income from S.S. You folks manage the funds very well. Keep up the good work !
Anything new on ending the Windfall Elimination problem?
Marj,
We haven’t heard that there’s been any movement on either of the current bills regarding WEP. Since the government’s fiscal year ends at the end of this month, we would then need actual appropriations or a continuing resolution. We’ll try to update the situation in a blog later this year.
With all this talk of COLA’s, I’m glad you brought up the WEP and also let’s not forget the GPO. I personally am losing over $300.00 a month after working hard in factories. That’s way too much to lose, especially after I paid full taxes out of every paycheck. This is why we have to guard every cent of our retirement, we lose more than any other retiree in the country.
Since the President is giving a payroll tax holiday to everyone. This will weaken the SS trust fund. If that’s the case I don’t believe congress will vote to add more strain to the SS system.
It won’t weaken anything. Stop listening to cnn
Does dental cover dentures and what all does vision cover. And what about be hearing you never mentioned that if you have that does it cover hearing aids?
We offer information about the dental and vision plans offered through OPERS on our website under the Retired Members tab select Health Care then select Plan Options.
I had to get something changed with my retirement and need to fax them there can I get the fax number please.
Please forward your request through the online message center that is available through your online account so we can provide the appropriate fax number.
WHERE CAN I GET A DIRECT DEPOSIT CALENDAR ?
We’re going to post a blog on that subject soon.
Imo, people shouldn’t be getting mad at other people because of the rules OPERS is making. People that retired before 2013 were pressured into it. I worked 37 years and I would have worked till 40 but OPERS said in order to keep my 3% COLA I HAD to retire earlier. In fact they said we had to retire before 2012. They were getting ready to change everything-years needed to retire, the formula used for your retirement, the COLA, years needed for health care, etc. This was not our choice for OPERS to start separating people into these groups. We just did what they said we had to do in order to get what we deserved for having worked as long as we had.
We use the same index as S.S. but not the same time frame. I would like to know, why we do not use the same time frame. Two years in a row S.S. Has gotten higher raises. This seems unfair and why do we not use the same time frame as S.S. ?
Patty,
The time frame we use was set in Ohio law eight years ago. It was not meant to replicate Social Security; thus, it will typically not be exactly that same as Social Security’s. In fact, the first year we granted the inflation-based COLA was for 2019, and it was 3 percent. That year, Social Security’s adjustment was 2.8 percent.
Mike, I like how you always go back to the 3 percent and social security was 2.8. Now it is 1.4 for SS and .5 for opers. I’m sure you see they don’t add up and they haven’t for a few years.
David,
As we’ve stated, we do not use the same time period as Social Security to determine the inflation-adjusted COLA for the following year. Thus, it has always been unlikely that the percentage adjustments would be exactly the same.
When President Biden changes the formula for SS cola to price increases that actually affect seniors will Opers use the same ?
Jim,
There are too many uncertainties in your comment for a yes/no response. Know that the “CPI-E” is an experimental index that aims to reflect costs for the “elderly,” while OPERS has many retirees in their 50s.
Alexander,
Like we’ve said many times before, we use the same index that Social Security uses.
Then, Mr. Pramik, if President Bident / the government passes the CPI-E, why wouldn’t OPERS BOT use CPI-E for those over 65 and CPI-W for those under 65. It is not that difficult of a calculation. After all, the OPERS HRA table (age and years of service) is much more complicated than what would need to be done using two different CPI values. Yes, it would be fairly simple. Thanks.
Cheryl makes a great point.
When will we receive the COLA or 2021?
Cindy,
Retired members begin receiving their COLAs on the anniversary date of their retirement.
Why did some retirees get deposits Jan. 1 others won’t get deposited til Jan 4
Lillian,
Typically the first business day of the month does not include Jan. 1. Some financial institutions might consider that a business day.
Why not give increase to 2008 retirement. I am in WEP and did NOT receive my widow benefits it seems I keep getting hit financially. I still have house payment as had many health issues with spouse. That is my question????
You can check your cost of living adjustment (COLA) through your online account under the benefits tab. If you have additional questions about the COLA you will receive please send your questions through the online message center or contact us at 800-222-7377. Thanks M.S
I am also in WEP. I heard that incoming President Biden’s Social Security plan changes include eliminating WEP/GPO. Let’s keep our Senators and Reps on his back to do this!
That would be a great help, my SS spousal benefits were reduced to 0, my 2021 cola was $7.00 a month while my friends collecting SS got $20.00 cola! Ouch prices have gone way up especially for single income people who have a mortgage.
… and my community’s school taxes are higher than ever, mostly to go to salaries and benefits, including this.
Why is the retirement years going up to 35 years? first it was 30 years, then 32 years? the average starting age at this particular job is 32 years. how will anybody be well enough to enjoy their retirement if they’ll have one foot in the grave. the years for retirement should go back down to 30 years!!!!!
I wish OPERS would quit referring to the COLA for those employees who retired before 2013 as a 3 percent COLA (as in the above statement “those whose retirement effective date is prior to Jan 7, 2013 will continue to receive a 3 percent adjustment.”) It is only a 3 percent adjustment in the first year and then the same amount is received for the following years. It is not recalculated at 3 percent each year. It is a misleading statement.
K,
We have never misled anyone regarding the OPERS COLA, which by definition is a cost-of-living adjustment to a retiree’s pension. We have always stated that it’s a simple COLA and that it is always based on the initial retirement amount.
To be fair.. All Retirees should be on the CPI-W.. for the COLA.. The ones getting 3 percent are sitting back laughing .. We get less to pay them more.. It was originally discussed making the CPI-W across the Board!
I agree
Totally agree. Make COLA based on CPI-W across the board. Don’t penalize certain groups.
Do you have to wait an entire year after you retire before you can even get your first c o l a so if you retire in 2021 you have to wait your one year till 2022 and since the cola or propose cola freeze is for 2022 and 2023 those retiring this year won’t get a cola till 2024
But anybody that retires in 2021 and kept up with all the cola information should know that that’s the way it works should know that Opers let everybody know they were making that proposal and if everybody thinking about retiring in 2021 came up with the Facebook account and the emails and the Oprers account they would know that the proposed cola has not been passed yet
Janet,
Yes, under current rules the first cost-of-living adjustments are granted one year after your retirement anniversary date.
You win some you lose some life is not perfect always be thankful for what you have at the present time and I do think OPERS for all their hard work truly you can’t satisfy everybody at the same time always remember there is somebody out there worse off than you thank God for family and friends keep up the good work o p e r s
Mr. Pramik,
Where are we with the COLA freeze enactment?
Cheryl,
OPERS continues to pursue the proposal that our Board of Trustees approved in October 2019.
What is the deadline month in 2021, to set the COLA for 2022? thanks
Cathy,
OPERS has announced the COLA for the following year in August or September for the past two years.
OPERS wants to freeze cost of living increases, and with the rampant inflation we’re already seeing in 2021 in energy, food and durable goods it will only get worse over the next 2 years. Yikes!
I agree with Tracy. Yikes!! Maybe OPERS and the Board of Trustees needs to re-think pursuing their proposed changes
A cola freeze is never a good thing, but this proposed freeze couldn’t have come at a worse time. The last few years inflation has been rather flat but that’s certainly not the case now. Things are trending in a way not seen since the Carter era. We will need cola increases more than ever.
For those getting a cola based on the formula SS uses anything less than a 3% cola in 2022 will be considered a scam and hopefully looked into. Thank you
Jim,
Regarding the inflation-based COLA that some retirees receive, we follow exactly what is written in Ohio law. The amount is based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as described in this blog.
I saw on CNBC recently that there could be as much as a 6.1% cost-of-living adjustment next year for Social Security recipients based on estimates from the latest Consumer Price Index data.
Should OPERS recipients expect to see the same increase for 2022 if the cola freeze that OPERS is fighting to enact on retirees fails?
Thank you.
Tracy,
It’s written in Ohio law that for retirees whose COLAs are based on the CPI-W, that increase shall be capped at 3.0 percent. That amount is not up to OPERS to decide. We have to do what’s in the law.
I want to retire with 42 years of service in opers on November 16, 2021
Will I get the cpi increase for 2022
MIchael,
Assuming your effective retirement date would be Dec. 1, then yes, you would receive the COLA on your anniversary date in 2022.
Here we go again . First take our medical allowances, then adjust working years, then take away pre- medicare insurance, now a cheap half percent for our Cola. Unbelievable. …what’s next?
Please inform the powers that be that OPERS can keep the monthly $6.00 Cola increase I received in November, 2021. Pathetic. While, the over 800 business contributors haven’t had their contribution rate raised for nearly 10 years (due to its maximum defined by law).Time to change that law? On 1/1/22 Our HRA’s will be reduced by over $100+ per month yet business contribution rate has remained static – this is unjust!