No source states it directly; we infer it from the absence of any automatic increase in article 18-7A, the ad hoc supplements in §§18-7A-26a to -26y, the §18-7A-28e limit, and the actuary's assumptions.
We say there is no automatic COLA. Check with CPRB.
What would settle it: A CPRB statement or the West Virginia TRS actuarial valuation's plan-provision summary.
- Check with CPRBWest Virginia TRS has no automatic cost-of-living increase. Increases have come only when the Legislature passed one, such as one-time bonuses or minimum benefits for retirees 70 and older in 2023.Inferred from the code; no source states it in so many words. Check with CPRB.W. Va. Code §§18-7A-26a to -26y, -28e
What the law shows
None of the sources provides an automatic cost-of-living increase for West Virginia TRS retirees. Increases after retirement have come only from specific legislation: one-time supplements and bonuses and minimum benefits for retirees who had already retired (W. Va. Code §§18-7A-26a to -26y; the latest are a $1,500 one-time payment and a $1,000 minimum for certain retirees aged 70 or older with 20-25 years, both in 2023). §18-7A-28e caps how much the State may raise retirees' benefits. The actuary's West Virginia TRS assumptions list no cost-of-living increase. W. Va. Code §§18-7A-26a to -26y (incl. §18-7A-26x, -26y); §18-7A-28e; CPRB annual report FY2025, pp. 141-143, West Virginia TRS Summary of Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
Because the amount is fixed, the choices you make at the start matter more: when you retire (see one more year) and which payment option you pick.
What a flat pension looks like
A $3,000 monthly benefit with no automatic increase:
| Years after you retire | Monthly |
|---|---|
| First year | $3,000 |
| 5 years | $3,000 |
| 10 years | $3,000 |
| 15 years | $3,000 |
| 20 years | $3,000 |
The amount doesn't change, but prices usually rise, so it buys less each year. Plan for that with savings or other income. Check with CPRB
See also taxes on your pension and retiree health premiums, which can change each year.
Questions
Does West Virginia TRS give a cost-of-living raise?
Not automatically, as far as we can tell. The law has no yearly increase; retirees have had one-time payments and minimum-benefit increases only when the Legislature passed them. Check with CPRB.
When was the last increase?
The latest we found, from 2023, were a one-time payment and a minimum benefit for certain retirees 70 or older. Neither is a yearly raise.
Source: West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (CPRB), September 2023. Also: CPRB annual report FY2025; W. Va. Code §§ 18-7A-26a, 18-7A-26x, 18-7A-26y, 18-7A-28e. Last reviewed .