Updated October 30, 2026. Quick answer: Connecticut SERS retirees receive, per the Comptroller, an annual cost-of-living adjustment on the January 1 or July 1 after at least 9 months of benefits; the Tier III plan description adds a 10-year service condition and the Tier IV description starts the COLA after 30 months of retirement. For retirements on or after July 1, 1999 and before October 2, 2011, the COLA falls between 2.5% and 6%, equal to 60% of the CPI-W increase up to 6% plus 75% of the increase over 6%. For retirements on or after August 1, 2022 it equals the CPI-W increase when that is 2% or less. The documents read print no system-wide percentage, and no 2027 figure is set.
More on public pension retirement ages and eligibility: the Connecticut SERS Tier IV retirement age and eligibility rules.
When it is paid
The State Comptroller says: “If you are a retired SERS member, you will be eligible for an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) payable on the January 1st or July 1st following your receipt of at least 9 months of retirement benefits”.
The formula
For retirements before October 2, 2011: “If you retired on or after July 1, 1999, but before October 2, 2011, your COLA will fall within a range, from a minimum of 2.5% to a maximum of 6%.” “Within that range, the COLA will be equal to: 60% of the increase in the CPI-W up to 6%, plus 75% of the increase over 6%.”
For later retirements: “If you retired or retire on or after August 1, 2022, your COLA will equal the increase in the CPI-W in years in which the CPI-W is 2% or less. If the CPI-W is greater than 2%, your COLA will fall within a range, from a minimum of 2% to a maximum of 7.5%.”
Tier III and Tier IV
The Tier III plan description says: “If you have at least 10 years of actual state service, you will be eligible for an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) after you start receiving retirement benefits.” The Tier IV plan description says: “You or your contingent annuitant or spouse will be eligible for a cost of living increase commencing on the first anniversary date following completion of 30 months of retirement.”
What the documents do not say
The Comptroller documents read do not print a 2026 percentage or any system-wide COLA figure. This page therefore states none, and it does not treat a missing figure as zero.
Where 2027 stands
No 2027 SERS COLA percentage is set: each one is computed from the CPI-W for the 12 months before the retiree’s COLA anniversary, so none exists before then, and this page updates if the Comptroller publishes a system-wide figure.
Common mistakes
- Looking for one system-wide COLA number. The formula is applied to each retiree’s anniversary.
- Applying the 2.5% to 6% range to every retiree. The range depends on the retirement date.
- Assuming a Tier IV retiree is eligible right away. The plan description requires 30 months of retirement.
Related: Connecticut SERS retirement decisions, how public pension decisions work, and whether Connecticut taxes pensions.
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Answer againSources
- Office of the State Comptroller, How do I receive a cost-of-living increase and how much will it be? (FAQ 9): osc.ct.gov
- Office of the State Comptroller, How is the COLA calculated? (FAQ 40): osc.ct.gov
- Office of the State Comptroller, SERS Tier III Summary Plan Description: osc.ct.gov
- Office of the State Comptroller, SERS Tier IV Defined Benefit Plan Summary Plan Description: osc.ct.gov
Read from the primary documents linked above on October 30, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a preparer or the IRS itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.