Updated October 30, 2026. Quick answer: Nevada PERS has no single COLA date. Each retiree gets an increase once a year, starting after the third anniversary of retirement. Members who joined on or after July 1, 2015 have fixed steps under NRS 286.574, then the lesser of 3% or the prior calendar year’s CPI. For other members NRS 286.5756 sets the lesser of a scheduled percentage that steps up with years retired or the three-year average CPI cap, and PERS verified that cap at 2.87% effective September 1, 2025. The cap for the 12 months starting in September 2026 is not in the documents read.
More on public pension retirement ages and eligibility: the Nevada PERS retirement age and eligibility rules by enrollment date.
How the Nevada PERS increase works
Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 286 provides that “allowances or benefits increase once each year on the first day of the month immediately following the anniversary of the date the person began receiving the allowance or benefit, by the lesser of:” “Two percent following the 3rd anniversary of the commencement of benefits, 3 percent following the 6th anniversary of the commencement of benefits, 3.5 percent following the 9th anniversary of the commencement of benefits,” “The average percentage of increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Items) for the 3 preceding years, unless a different index is substituted by the Board.” Membership date decides the top step: the statute runs up to 5% after the 14th anniversary for one group of members and up to 4% after the 12th anniversary for another.
Members who joined on or after July 1, 2015 have a different schedule; after the 9th anniversary the statute says: “By the lesser of 3 percent or the increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index (All Items) published by the United States Department of Labor for the preceding calendar year following the 9th anniversary of the commencement of benefits and each year thereafter.”
The cap in force
PERS publishes the cap in its newsletter: “The result is the new PRI cap which becomes effective for the next 12 months starting in September and ending in August of the following year. We have verified the new three-year capped average to be 2.87% effective 9/1/2025.” The earlier issue says: “We have verified the new three year capped average to be 5.00% effective 9/1/2023.” PERS also explains the timing: “Post-retirement increases are due in the month following the month in which you retired starting the fourth year of retirement.”
Where 2027 stands
The 2027 Nevada PERS cap is not set: PERS verifies the three-year CPI cap each year for the 12 months starting in September, the cap for the 12 months starting in September 2026 was not found in the PERS documents read, and this page updates when PERS publishes it.
What this page does not cover
The schedule differs by membership date and by Regular or Police and Fire service, and the PERS COLA page itself could not be read for this page. Check your own anniversary month and schedule with PERS before relying on a figure.
Common mistakes
- Looking for one January COLA. Nevada increases take effect on the first day of the month after each retiree’s own anniversary of benefits.
- Assuming the scheduled percentage is always paid. For members under NRS 286.5756 the three-year CPI cap can lower it, but the statute requires the scheduled percentages anyway if the allowance has not increased at least as fast as the average CPI since retirement.
- Using the pre-2010 schedule for a member who joined after July 1, 2015.
Related: Nevada PERS retirement decisions, how public pension decisions work, and whether Nevada taxes pensions.
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Answer againSources
- Nevada Legislature (Legislative Counsel Bureau), Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 286: www.leg.state.nv.us
- Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada, PERS News 2025, Volume 2: www.nvpers.org
- Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada, PERS News 2024: www.nvpers.org
- Related official page (not quoted): Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 286 (Public Employees’ Retirement System): www.leg.state.nv.us
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.