OPM 2025 COLA Increase Date: When will the federal workers see this change as part of 2025’s cost of living adjustment (COLA) under President Joe Biden’s Democratic government? In one of his final acts as chief executive, Biden announced the plan in a letter to Congress and said he was using executive authority to give two percent raises on average to workers, falling short of some of his earlier targets.
The President once planned to limit increases for civilian federal workers to those same levels that were projected for military members through at least 2021, but through 2025 those are now predicted to be a 3.5% annual average, so the government is still not meeting its own goal.
However, while Biden will announce it as an executive order before the end of 2024 to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, workers are all but guaranteed that change in locality pay tables by then. Biden said the change was to “close the wage gap so we can attract, recruit and retain a skilled workforce with fair compensation in order to keep the government running.”
About Federal Wage System Employees
This is not just for GS employees and the raise will take effect when you start receiving your next paycheck. You may also be in line for a pay raise if you are part of the Federal Wage System (FWS) which generally pertains to blue-collar jobs like specialized mechanics and trades people.
Where You Live and Work Will Likely Play a Role in Whether you Get Paid More A 0.3% locality adjustment would mean that employees in higher cost of living areas could potentially get a slightly larger increase than those in lower cost of living areas.
That said, if you’re living in expensive cities like San Francisco or New York, your raise would likely be higher than someone from regions with a lower cost of living. This is only a suggested raise which is stated to be at 2%. It also is in the hands of Congress, which must pass a federal budget and anything can happen at that point.
When will you know the amount of your raise?
Social Security will inform beneficiaries by mail at the latest in December 2024. Nonetheless, you can see it online by mid-November. The COLA will show up in your first payment of 2020, after Jan. 1.
Overall, the SSI increase (inflation bump or COLA) will be its smallest measurement since 2021, but is still good news for all of those who rely on Social Security. Inflation is in check, so the added cash will give retirees some breathing room month to month while helping spread their dollars even further. Tune in October 10th — every little bit counts as we head into 2025!
Expected OPM 2025 COLA Increase Date
Overall, the SSI increase (inflation bump or COLA) will be its smallest measurement since 2021, but is still good news for all of those who rely on Social Security. Inflation is in check, so the added cash will give retirees some breathing room month to month while helping spread their dollars even further. On October 10th every little bit counts as we head into 2025!
Federal retirees and Social Security recipients will supposedly see no increase in the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for January 2025 as it cycles back again. Any changed advantage levels will show up in the checks they get by January of that year. The authority COLA rate will be announced in October soon after the circulation of CPI-W data for the second from last quarter 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for OPM 2025 COLA Increase Date
For the 2025 COLA adjustment, you must be a resident of the USA.
- You can only get retirement benefits once you turn 65 years of age.
- Beneficiaries must be at or below the federal poverty line.
- Applicants need to have accrued 20 work credits in the last ten years to qualify for disability benefits.
- All applicants must have a valid Social Security number to be eligible for benefits.
- The COLA raises benefits for more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries, including seniors, disabled individuals and survivors
- The COLA percentage will be announced Oct. 10 of the year before the increase takes effect in January.
Payment Schedule for OPM 2025 COLA Increase Date
Usually payments go out based on birthdates:
- Born on the 1st-10th: Payment on January 8, 2025
- Born on the 11th-20th: Payment on January 15, 2025
- Born on the 21st-31st: Payment on January 22, 2025
Follow the conversation and make sure to check the SSA website for any COLA announcements or changes in eligibility.
How to Apply for the OPM 2025 COLA Increase Date?
Visit the SSA’s COLA Announcements page for up-to-date announcements.
- Make sure you have your Social Security number and other documentation needed ready.
- The COLA boost for 2025 will be published in mid-October 2024.
- The raise will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
- Beneficiaries will see an increase in their payment levels according to the adjusted COLA starting January 2025.
- The increase will be announced by the SSA in October.
Fact check
The result of the 2025 COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) for federal employees, including those under the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is projected to be announced in mid-October 2024. According to inflation data for the Consumer Price Index (CPI), estimates have ranged from 2.57% to 3% for the third quarter of 2024. The last adjustment shall be made effective based on the average Inflation rate for that entire month of July, August and September. That one-time adjustment was pared back from 3.2% for tougher benefits in 2024, suggesting there is room to lower the COLA going into 2025.
