2013 COLA for Retired Military Veterans
Updated: October 29, 2012
Written by Veteran.com Team
The 2013 COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) for retired military veterans has been increased by 1.7%. This change is effective Dec. 1, 2012 and will be reflected on the first check to be paid on Dec. 31, 2012.
The 1.7% COLA adjustment is also effective for disabled veterans, military and federal civilian retirees, survivor benefit annuitants and Social Security recipients.
The 2013 COLA of 1.7% is less than half of last year’s 3.6% adjustment after two years of no adjustments when the Consumer Price Index actually fell at the outset of the recession.
The cost-of-living-adjustment is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). It is based on the percentage increase of the CPI-W from the 3rd quarter of the previous year versus the current year’s 3rd quarter.
Veterans who retired during the 2012 calendar year will receive a temporary partial COLA due to already receiving a military pay raise in January.
History of Social Security COLA (cost-of-adjustments) since 1975:
| Year | COLA | Year | COLA | Year | COLA |
| 1975 | 8.0% | 1988 | 4.0% | 2001 | 0.6% |
| 1976 | 6.4% | 1989 | 4.7% | 2002 | 1.4% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | 1990 | 5.4% | 2003 | 2.1% |
| 1978 | 6.5% | 1991 | 3.7% | 2004 | 2.7% |
| 1979 | 9.9% | 1992 | 3.0% | 2005 | 4.1% |
| 1980 | 14.3% | 1993 | 2.6% | 2006 | 3.3% |
| 1981 | 11.2% | 1994 | 2.8% | 2007 | 2.3% |
| 1982 | 7.4% | 1995 | 2.6% | 2008 | 5.8% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | 1996 | 2.9% | 2009 | 0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | 1997 | 2.1% | 2010 | 0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | 1998 | 1.3% | 2011 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | 1999 | 2.5% | 2012 | 1.7% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | 2000 | 3.5% |
