Updated October 30, 2026. Quick answer: Oklahoma OPERS cannot grant a COLA on its own: the Oklahoma Legislature alone can. The latest is the 2026 increase under Senate Bill 1145, a 6% increase for those who retired on July 1, 2006 or earlier and 3% for those who retired between August 1, 2006 and July 1, 2016, effective November 1, 2026, for retirees in continuous retirement and receiving benefits as of June 30, 2026. A 2027 COLA is not set yet.
More on public pension retirement ages and eligibility: the Oklahoma OPERS retirement age and eligibility rules by hire date.
Who can grant an OPERS COLA
OPERS states: “OPERS cannot grant a COLA on its own; the Oklahoma Legislature has sole authority to provide COLAs for OPERS and URSJJ members.” Its explanation of how changes happen adds: “Major updates to state law for items like benefit amounts, contributions, eligibility requirements, and Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) must go through the Oklahoma Legislature.” It also says: “Under the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act (OPLAAA), any bill that might affect the system’s financial standing must go through an actuarial investigation.”
The 2026 increase
OPERS describes the bill as follows: “Senate Bill 1145 (OPERS) Senate Bill 1148 (URSJJ) (Rep. Trey Caldwell and Sen. Chuck Hall) Effective November 1, 2026”. On the basis for the increase it says: “This bill provides a COLA based on a member’s years of retirement as of June 30, 2026.” The increase is not the same for every retiree. OPERS shows it by retirement date:
| Retirement date | COLA adjustment |
|---|---|
| “On July 1, 2006 or earlier” | “6% increase” |
| “Between August 1, 2006 – July 1, 2016” | “3% increase” |
| “Between August 1, 2016 to now” | “No adjustment” |
On timing, OPERS says: “The increase will be effective for the benefit deposited on November 30, 2026.”
Who is left out
OPERS attaches a condition to the dates: “Additionally, you must be retired and receiving benefits as of June 30, 2026, to be eligible for the COLA.” The table also carries a footnote: “These dates require continuous retirement. If you are a retiree who has returned to work and suspended your benefit, your eligibility dates may differ.” Retirees who retired from August 1, 2016 on get no adjustment under this bill.
Where 2027 stands
No 2027 OPERS COLA is set yet: it would take a new bill passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, and this page updates when OPERS publishes one. The OPERS pages read describe only the 2026 increase, and the bill’s enactment date and statute text are not printed in them.
A worked example
As a computed illustration (not a source figure), a retiree who retired in 2005 with a monthly benefit of $2,000 (invented, for the computation) would see $120 (computed) a month added, while a retiree in the 3% group with the same benefit would see $60 (computed) a month.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a yearly OPERS COLA. OPERS says only the Oklahoma Legislature can provide one, and it must pass a bill.
- Applying the 6% to anyone who retired after July 1, 2006. The 3% group is the one between August 1, 2006 and July 1, 2016, and later retirees get no adjustment.
- Assuming a retiree who went back to work qualifies on the table dates. OPERS says those dates require continuous retirement.
Related: Oklahoma OPERS retirement decisions, how public pension decisions work, and whether Oklahoma taxes pensions.
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Answer againSources
- Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, Legislative Update 2026: COLAs and Employer Contributions: www.opers.ok.gov
- Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, Understanding how OPERS changes happen: www.opers.ok.gov
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS Tax Topic 410, Pensions and annuities: www.irs.gov
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS Tax Topic 411, Pensions: the General Rule and the Simplified Method: www.irs.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.