For Employees Covered by the National Agreement:
In July 2012, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) fell to 671.899. Accordingly, the second cost-of-living increase under the 2010 national agreement will be $375.00 per year, $14.40 per pay period, $0.18 per hour. Under the terms of the 2010 National Agreement, the COLA triggered by the release of the July 2012 CPI-W will be effective the second full pay period following the release of the July 2013 index. The expected effective date will be Sept. 7, 2013 (Pay Period 20-2013).
Note: The 1st COLA under the 2010 National Agreement will be $62 per year (3 cents per hour or $2.40 per pay period). In accordance with the 2010 National Agreement, the COLA triggered by the release of the January 2012 CPI-W will become effective the first full pay period after the release of the January 2013 CPI-W, tentatively scheduled for March 9, 2013 (pay period 07-2013, pay date March 29, 2013).
There will be seven COLA adjustments under the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement based on the Jan. 2012, July 2012, Jan. 2013, July 2013, Jan. 2014, July 2014, and Jan. 2015 release of the CPI-W. The first two COLAs will be deferred until Jan. 2013 and July 2013, but will be based on the Jan. 2012 and July 2012 CPI-W, respectively.
Under the 2006-2010 National Agreement and the 2006-2010 Operating Services Agreement, employees received cost-of-living adjustments totaling $2,642. Note: In accordance with the 2010-2015 National Agreement, the Operating Services agreement has been incorporated into Article 40 of the National Agreement. There is no longer a separate Operating Services Agreement.
The 2013 CSRS retiree COLA is based on the third quarter (July, August, September) average CPI-W index in 2012 over the 2011 third quarter average. After the third quarter of the adjustment period (April, May, June, Q2 of 2012) the quarterly average has risen by 1.5% over the third quarter 2011 base. Note: The 2012 adjustment was 3.6% beginning with the January 2012 annuity payment.
related link: Burrus: Health Contributions Increase Offsets COLA Pay Increase
The 2013 FERS retiree COLA, if any, will be based on the increase in the third quarter average of the CPI-W over the 2011 third quarter average. However, if the CPI-W quarterly average increases three percent or more, the COLA is the increase less one percent. If the quarterly average increase is between two percent and three percent, the COLA is two percent. If the quarterly average increase is two percent or less, the COLA is equal to the quarterly average increase. After the third quarter of the adjustment period (April, May, June, Q2 of 2012) the quarterly average has risen by 1.5% over the third quarter 2011 base. Note: The 2012 adjustment was 2.6% beginning with the January 2012 annuity payment.
For Social Security recipients:
(08/18/12) The 2013 Social Security COLA is based on the third quarter (July, August, September) average CPI-W index in 2012 over the 2011 third quarter average. After the third quarter of the adjustment period (April, May, June, Q2 of 2012) the quarterly average has risen by 1.5% over the third quarter 2011 base. Note: The 2012 adjustment was 3.6% beginning with the January 2012 payment.
(08/18/12) The percentage increase in the December CPI-W index from year to year determines the FECA COLA increase. After the seventh month of the twelve-month measuring period for the 2013 COLA the Index has risen 1.531%. Note: The 2012 COLA increase will be 3.2% and will be effective with the April 2012 payment.
via American Postal Workers Union