- Delaware pensions have no automatic cost-of-living adjustment. Increases happen only when the General Assembly approves one.Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 35, Post-Retirement Increases (PRI)
- The most recent increase, effective July 1, 2026, was 2% for pensions that started before July 1, 2006 and 1% for pensions that started July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2021.DPERS Retiree Newsletter (Aug. 2026), p. 2; 29 Del. C. §5532(t)
How increases work
There is no automatic cost-of-living increase. Post-retirement increases (PRIs) are granted only when the General Assembly approves them. Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 35, Post-Retirement Increases (PRI); Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 35 Each increase is a separate law, listed in 29 Del. C. §5532. 29 Del. C. §5532 (each increase is enacted separately)
Every increase since 2012
Each increase covers pensions by the date they started (their effective date). A pension that started after a band's last date got nothing that time.
| Increase on | Pension started | Raise |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | on or before June 30, 2006 | 2% |
| 29 Del. C. §5532(t) | after June 30, 2006 and on or before June 30, 2021 | 1% |
| July 1, 2024 | on or before June 30, 2004 | 2% |
| 29 Del. C. §5532(s) | after June 30, 2004 and on or before June 30, 2019 | 1% |
| July 1, 2022 | on or before June 30, 1992 | 3% |
| 29 Del. C. §5532(r) | after June 30, 1992 and on or before June 30, 2017 | 2% |
| July 1, 2021 | on or before June 30, 1991 | 3% |
| after June 30, 1991 and on or before June 30, 2001 | 2% | |
| 29 Del. C. §5532(q) | after July 1, 2001 and on or before June 30, 2016 | 1% |
| January 1, 201529 Del. C. §5532(p) | on or before June 30, 2013 | 1% |
| July 1, 201229 Del. C. §5532(o) | on or before June 30, 2011 | 1% |
| January 1, 201229 Del. C. §5532(n) | on or before June 30, 2010 | 2% |
Only increases from 2012 on are listed; §5532(a)-(m) lists earlier ones. Bands use the pension's effective date.
The law granting the July 1, 2021 increase gives 2% to pensions that started on or before June 30, 2001 and 1% to pensions that started after July 1, 2001. Read literally, a pension that started exactly on July 1, 2001 is in neither group. We show no percent for that date.
29 Del. C. §5532(q)Example: a pension that started July 1, 2015
Our illustration on the table above: a $2,000.00 monthly pension that started July 1, 2015.
| Increase on | Raise | Monthly after |
|---|---|---|
| Start | $2,000.00 | |
| July 1, 2021 | 1% | $2,020.00 |
| July 1, 2022 | 2% | $2,060.40 |
| July 1, 2024 | 1% | $2,081.00 |
| July 1, 2026 | 1% | $2,101.81 |
We apply each raise to the pension as it stands and round to cents. Later increases can't be predicted, so the calculator doesn't project any.
See also retiree health and taxes.
Questions
Does a Delaware SEPP pension have a COLA?
Not an automatic one. Post-retirement increases (PRIs) happen only when the General Assembly passes one, and each sets its own percentages by when your pension started.
What was the latest increase?
Effective July 1, 2026: 2% for pensions that started on or before June 30, 2006; 1% for pensions that started after June 30, 2006 and on or before June 30, 2021.
How many increases have there been since 2012?
7, on January 1, 2012, July 1, 2012, January 1, 2015, July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022, July 1, 2024, July 1, 2026.
Source: State Employees' Pension Plan Summary Plan Description, 2026 edition (PDF dated May 14, 2026), p. 35. Also: Office of Pensions workshop (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 35; DPERS Retiree Newsletter (Aug. 2026); 29 Del. C. § 5532. Last reviewed .