Updated October 30, 2026. Quick answer: The Wyoming Retirement System has no automatic COLA. Since a 2012 law only the Legislature can grant one, and a COLA can be paid from WRS funds only once the plan is 100% funded. At retirement a member can instead choose a self-funded COLA of 1%, 2% or 3% a year in exchange for a smaller starting benefit. No 2027 increase from the Legislature is on record.
Who can grant a WRS COLA
The WRS cost of living page says: “In 2012, the State Legislature passed a law returning the authority to grant pension cost of living adjustments (COLAs) to the Legislature and also requiring 100% funding of the plan before a COLA could be awarded from WRS funds.” It adds: “it will be many years before the plan meets the requirements to grant a COLA from WRS funds.”
The self-funded COLA option
WRS describes the option this way: “This feature provides a guaranteed annual increase each July 1, following the two-year anniversary of your retirement, in exchange for a reduction in the initial benefit amount (with zero percent COLA).” On the size it says: “you receive a predictable ongoing increase to your pension income of either 1 percent, 2 percent or 3 percent and increases are compounded.”
What the statute says
Wyoming Statutes Title 9 gives the history: “From 1991 through 2008, cost-of-living increases ranging from one percent (1%) to three percent (3%) were provided for eighteen (18) consecutive years in the largest public employee retirement plan”. On future changes it says: “No benefit changes, including cost-of-living increases and changes to multipliers, shall be recommended for implementation by the legislature unless the system’s actuaries provide an opinion that the funded ratio of the plan will remain above the funding level set out in paragraph (i) of this subsection throughout the life of the benefit change”.
Where 2027 stands
No 2027 Wyoming COLA is set: WRS says it is not aware of any pending legislation, and this page updates if the Legislature grants one. The sources read give no date for the last legislative COLA beyond that 1991 to 2008 history.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a yearly increase from the system. WRS says the authority to grant a COLA is the Legislature’s, and a COLA paid from WRS funds requires the plan to be 100% funded.
- Treating the 1%, 2% or 3% option as free. It is chosen at retirement in exchange for a reduced initial benefit.
- Applying this page to every Wyoming plan. It covers the public employee plan described on the WRS pages.
Related: Wyoming WRS retirement decisions, how public pension decisions work, and whether Wyoming taxes pensions.
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Answer againSources
- Wyoming Retirement System, Cost of Living Adjustments: retirement.wyo.gov
- Wyoming Retirement System, Pension Payout Options: retirement.wyo.gov
- Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming Statutes Title 9: wyoleg.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.