The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefit payments from Sept. 2025 through Aug. 2026 is 1.2%.
By law, eligible retirees who have an annual benefit of $18,000 or more will receive a monthly increase of $18 beginning with the Sept. 30, 2025 pension payment.
The permanent, automatic COLA, which is determined by New York state law, is designed to help offset the adverse effects of inflation on the fixed retirement benefits of the state’s public retirees.
The 1.2% COLA for 2025-26 is applied to the first $18,000 of the maximum retired benefit, which translates to the $18 increase per month. Those receiving less than $18,000 will receive a smaller (prorated) monthly COLA increase.
This latest COLA brings the cumulative maximum monthly increase since COLA legislation was enacted in 2000 to $526.50.
Visit the Retirees/COLA page to learn about eligibility requirements and for more information.
