U.S. · Military retired pay · December 2026
Military retiree COLA 2027 calculator.
Military retired pay rises by the CPI-W change each December 1. For 2027 that is 3.6%, with one point less for retirees who took the Career Status Bonus.
Your numbers
Placeholders only. Use your gross monthly retired pay from your DFAS retiree account statement.
Result
The 2027 military retiree COLA in one line
Under 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b), retired pay goes up every December 1 by the percentage the CPI-W base quarter (July through September) exceeds the base index, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent. SSA's published CPI-W based COLA for December 2026 is 3.6%, so retired pay rises 3.6% on December 1, 2026. This uses the same index as the Social Security COLA.
This is a derived figure. We apply the statute to SSA's 3.6%. DFAS posts the official percentage and applies it to your account.
Who gets less than the full percentage
| Group | 2027 COLA | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Most retirees (final pay, High-3, and Blended Retirement System) | 3.6% | 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(2); BRS participants are covered by (b)(5). |
| Members who first joined on or after August 1, 1986 and elected the Career Status Bonus | 2.6% | 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(3): CPI minus 1 point when CPI is over 1%. |
The law also provides a catch-up at the next COLA if the reduction is ever not made.
Worked example
A retiree with $3,000 a month: $3,000 × 1.036 = $3,108, an increase of $108 a month or $1,296 a year. A Career Status Bonus retiree with the same $3,000: $3,000 × 1.026 = $3,078, an increase of $78 a month, $936 a year. The tool rounds to the cent.
What this does not cover
- First-year retirees. Subsection (c) of the statute sets a different first adjustment for some retirees.
- Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, VA disability compensation, and concurrent receipt, which each have their own adjustments (see the VA rates table).
- Tax withholding and any deduction on your DFAS statement.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-11-01. Each page was opened and read against the claim next to it.
- 10 U.S.C. 1401a, adjustment of retired pay: the December 1 effective date, CPI percentage, the one-point reduction for bonus electors and the modernized retirement system rule.
- SSA, Cost-of-Living Adjustments: the latest COLA of 3.6% beginning with December 2026 benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the military retiree COLA for 2027?
Our calculation is 3.6%, effective December 1, 2026. It follows SSA's CPI-W based COLA under 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b). DFAS publishes the official percentage.
Do Blended Retirement System retirees get the full COLA?
Yes. Section 1401a(b)(5) says a member in the modernized retirement system is increased under the full-percentage rule in paragraph (2).
Who gets the reduced COLA?
People who first became a member on or after August 1, 1986 and elected the Career Status Bonus get the CPI change minus 1 point when it is over 1%, so 2.6% for 2027.
When does the COLA take effect?
December 1 of each year, under 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(1).
Is it the same as the Social Security COLA?
It uses the same CPI-W index and base quarter, so the percentage matches the Social Security COLA, 3.6% for 2027. The legal basis is separate.
Does the COLA change what my pension is based on?
No. Retired pay is not recomputed when active-duty basic pay rises (10 U.S.C. 1401a(a)); it moves with the COLA.
Estimate only
This is an educational estimate, not benefits, tax or legal advice. OPM, DFAS or your plan makes the binding calculation, and rules change. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.