When Do I Receive My COLA?

I was hired with the state in 1994 and currently fall under the MSEP. Will I receive my COLA each year on my anniversary date, or does this only apply if you do backdrop beyond your retirement?

 Yes, MOSERS calculates a cost-of-living adjustment each year for all general state employees. As a retired general state employee, you will receive a COLA each year on the anniversary of your retirement date, unless one of these exceptions applies to you:

• Retirees who converted from MSEP to MSEP 2000 during the conversion window in 2000 have COLAs payable each year in July.
•         Retirees who elected a BackDROP* will have COLAs payable each year on the anniversary of their BackDROP date rather than on the anniversary of their retirement date.
•         MSEP 2011 members hired after January 1, 2018 who leave state employment prior to retirement eligibility, will receive their first COLA in retirement on the second anniversary of their retirement.

For more information, including how the COLA rate is calculated, and a helpful video, please see the COLA page on our website. This BackDROP graphic also illustrates the difference between BackDROP date and retirement date.

*BackDROP is available only to general state employees who are members of MSEP & MSEP 2000 and who work at least two years beyond normal retirement eligibility.