The 2014 COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) for retired military veterans, VA rates for compensation and pension for disabled veterans and surviving families has been increased by 1.5%. This change is effective Dec. 1, 2013 and will be reflected on the first check to be paid on
Dec. 31, 2013. The 1.5% COLA adjustment is also effective for disabled veterans, surviving families, military and federal civilian retirees, survivor benefit annuitants and Social Security recipients.
The 2014 COLA of 1.5% is .2% less than 2013 when the COLA increase was 1.7%.
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 retire during the current 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 | 8.00% | 1989 | 4.00% | 2003 | 1.40% |
| 1976 | 6.40% | 1990 | 4.70% | 2004 | 2.10% |
| 1977 | 5.90% | 1991 | 5.40% | 2005 | 2.70% |
| 1978 | 6.50% | 1992 | 3.70% | 2006 | 4.10% |
| 1979 | 9.90% | 1993 | 3.00% | 2007 | 3.30% |
| 1980 | 14.30% | 1994 | 2.60% | 2008 | 2.30% |
| 1981 | 11.20% | 1995 | 2.80% | 2009 | 5.80% |
| 1982 | 7.40% | 1996 | 2.60% | 2010 | 0.00% |
| 1983 | N/A | 1997 | 2.90% | 2011 | 0.00% |
| 1984 | 3.50% | 1998 | 2.10% | 2012 | 3.60% |
| 1985 | 3.50% | 1999 | 1.30% | 2103 | 1.70% |
| 1986 | 3.10% | 2000 | 2.50% | 2014 | 1.50% |
| 1987 | 1.30% | 2001 | 3.50% | 2015 | 1.70% |
| 1988 | 4.20% | 2002 | 2.60% |
