5 U.S.C. § 8462 - Cost-of-living adjustments

• Cite as: 5 U.S.C. § 8462

(a) For the purpose of this section-

(1) the term "base quarter", as used with respect to a year, means the calendar quarter ending on September 30 of such year;

(2) the price index for a base quarter is the arithmetical mean of such index for the 3 months comprising such quarter; and

(3) the term "percent change in the price index", as used with respect to a year, means the percentage derived by-

(A) reducing-

(i) the price index for the base quarter of such year, by

(ii) the price index for the base quarter of the preceding year in which an adjustment under this subsection was made;

(B) dividing the difference under subparagraph (A) by the price index referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii); and

(C) multiplying the quotient under subparagraph (B) by 100.

(b)

(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), effective December 1 of any year in which an adjustment under this subsection is to be made, as determined under paragraph (2), each annuity payable from the Fund under this chapter (other than an annuity under section 8443) having a commencing date not later than such December 1 shall be adjusted as follows:

(A) If the percent change in the price index for the year does not exceed 3 percent, each annuity subject to adjustment under this subsection shall be increased by the lesser of-

(i) the percent change in the price index (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent); or

(ii) 2 percent.

(B) If the percent change in the price index for the year exceeds 3 percent, each annuity subject to adjustment under this subsection shall be increased by the excess of-

(i) the percent change in the price index (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent), over

(ii) 1 percent.

(2) An adjustment under this subsection shall be made in a year only if the price index for the base quarter of such year exceeds the price index for the base quarter of the preceding year in which an adjustment under this subsection was made.

(3) An annuity under this chapter shall not be subject to adjustment under section 8340. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall affect the computation of any amount under section 8443(a)(2).

(c) Eligibility for an annuity increase under this section is governed by the commencing date of each annuity payable from the Fund as of the effective date of an increase, except as follows:

(1) The first increase (if any) made under subsection (b) to an annuity which is payable from the Fund to an annuitant or survivor (other than a child under section 8443) whose annuity has not been increased under this subsection or subsection (b) shall be equal to the product (adjusted to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent) of-