Will NC state retirees get a cost of living adjustment this year? Compare history
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The General Assembly has not so far approved a COLA bonus for retirees in 2025.
- The House budget proposes a 1% COLA bonus in 2025 and 2% in 2026; Senate offers none.
- Retiree bonuses have ranged from 0% to 4% annually over the past 25 years.
Adding to the thousands of state employees and teachers waiting to find out what, if any raises they may get in the 2026 state budget are thousands more retirees.
The General Assembly frequently gives retired public service employees a cost of living adjustment as part of the state budget. But some years have been leaner than others.
In recent years, what was once recurring has become a one-time bonus. Some years there is not even a bonus.
The stagnant payments have become a concern for retirees amid high inflation.
About 252,000 retired people receive monthly pensions from the state as part of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System.
Here is the history of retiree supplements allocated by the General Assembly. Pension amounts are determined by employer and employee payments during an employee’s career as well as investment returns. Data from the TSERS website shows how much those retirees have received for the past 25 years.
What COLA raises or bonuses did retirees get each year?
- 2025: Nothing yet. While two small budget bills have been passed, the General Assembly has yet to come to an agreement on a big budget bill with any COLA increases. A mini budget bill passed this summer authorized step-increase raises for active teachers and state employees. The House passed its version of the budget in May, written by Republicans and receiving a majority of Democrats’ support as well. If the House version becomes law, retired state employees would receive a 1% bonus as a cost of living adjustment in 2025 and a 2% COLA bonus in 2026. The Senate’s budget bill has no bonuses or raises for retirees.
- 2024: No increase. The 4% bonus in 2023 was part of the 2023-25 state budget bill, and there was not a large budget adjustment bill passed in 2024.
- 2023: 4% bonus
- 2022: 4% bonus
- 2021: 2% bonus
- 2020: No increase
- 2019: No increase
- 2018: 1% bonus
- 2017: 1% for employees who retired by July 1, 2016
- 2016: 1.6% bonus
- 2015: No increase
- 2014: 1%
- 2013: No increase
- 2012: 1%
- 2011: No increase
- 2010: No increase
- 2009: No increase
- 2008: 2.2%
- 2007: 2.2%
- 2006: 3%
- 2005: 2%
- 2004: 1.7%
- 2003: 1.28%
- 2002: 2%
- 2001: 2%
- 2000: 4.2%
Retirees also received recurring raises from 1981 to 1999, except for 1991 when there was no increase. See a detailed list at myncretirement.gov.
