CalPERS retirees will get a cost of living increase this year. Here’s how much...
Posted 3 years 18 days ago ago by Jamee Villa
The Sacramento Bee
BY WES VENTEICHER
MARCH 10, 2021
CalPERS retirees will get a small bump in their pensions this year since the price of consumer goods increased last year despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The consumer price index increased by 1.23% for 2020, which means the pensions of most CalPERS retirees will increase by 1.23% or 2% in May, according to a chart published by the retirement system.
Any increase over 1% triggers a cost of living increase for public retirees in the state, whose pensions average $37,000 per year.
In total, this year’s increases will cost the state $242 million, according to CalPERS. The system is expected to pay about $27.6 billion in annual benefits this year to about 700,000 state and local government retirees, beneficiaries and survivors.
Those who retired in 2003 or earlier will get a 2% COLA increase. Those who have retired since then will receive a range of increases between 1.23% and 1.81%, depending on the year they retired.
More than 95% of retirees receive either the prior year’s increase or 2%, according to CalPERS.
Employees who retired before 1979 will receive a 3% increase, and a handful of other employees will receive increases of up to 5%.
Those who retired in 2020 won’t receive a COLA until next year.
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