- Nevada PERS pays post-retirement increases starting in the fourth year of retirement, each year in the month after the month you retired.Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 14, Post-Retirement Increases
- Enrolled before 2010: 2% in years 4-6, 3% in years 7-9, 3.5% in years 10-12, 4% in years 13-14, then 5% a year. Enrolled 2010 through June 2015: the same through 3.5%, then 4% a year from year 13. Enrolled on or after July 1, 2015: 2% in years 4-6, 2.5% in years 7-9, then 3% a year.Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 2; NRS 286.5756, 286.571, 286.574
- An increase can be lower than scheduled. It is capped by the 3-year average of the Consumer Price Index (2.87% from September 1, 2025), unless your benefit has not kept pace with inflation since you retired.Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), pp. 2, 14; Nevada PERS News Volume 2 - 2025, p. 2
Post-retirement increases start in the fourth year of retirement. They are paid in the month after the month you retired, once a year, compounding on the benefit in effect the day before. Each increase is the lesser of the schedule below and the CPI cap, unless your benefit has not kept pace with inflation since retirement. Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 2 (Post Retirement Increases row) and p. 14, Post-Retirement Increases
Your schedule depends on your enrollment group: the date your membership began.
The schedule by group
| Increase paid in the | Before 2010 | 2010 to mid-2015 | July 2015 on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st to 3rd years | none | none | none |
| 4th to 6th years | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| 7th to 9th years | 3% | 3% | 2.5% |
| 10th to 12th years | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3% |
| 13th to 14th years | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| 15th year on | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Before 1/1/2010: 2% in the 4th-6th years of retirement, 3% in the 7th-9th, 3.5% in the 10th-12th, 4% in the 13th-14th, 5% every year after. 1/1/2010-6/30/2015: 2%, 3%, 3.5% the same, then 4% every year after. On or after 7/1/2015: 2% in the 4th-6th years, 2.5% in the 7th-9th, 3% every year after. Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 2 (read from .layout.txt); NRS 286.5756(2)(a), 286.571(1)(a), 286.574(1); Official Policies (2024), p. 66, Policy 10.40
The inflation cap
The cap is the 3-year moving average of CPI-U (all items, all cities), averaging the annual June-to-June increases. It takes effect each September for 12 months. It does not apply if your benefit has not kept pace with the CPI-U since retirement. Official Policies (2024), p. 66, Policies 10.37-10.39, 10.41; Nevada PERS News Vol. 1 2025, p. 3; NRS 286.5756(2)(b), (3)
| Cap in effect from | Cap |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2024Nevada PERS News Volume I - 2025, p. 3, Post-Retirement Increases and new C.P.I. Cap % for Fiscal year 2025 | 5% |
| September 1, 2025Nevada PERS News Volume 2 - 2025, p. 2, Post-Retirement Increases and new C.P.I. Cap % | 2.87% |
The newest inflation cap we found took effect September 1, 2025. The cap for increases paid from September 1, 2026 wasn't in the sources.
What would settle it: A 2026 Nevada PERS newsletter or notice giving the cap effective Sept. 1, 2026.
If you enrolled on or after July 1, 2015, the law caps the 3% step (from the 10th year) at the past calendar year's inflation. Nevada PERS's policy says the 'CPI cap'. The guide's table just says 3%. We apply the inflation cap to that step only.
NRS 286.574(1); Official Policies (2024), p. 66, Policy 10.40(c); Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 2If you enrolled on or after July 1, 2015, the law and Nevada PERS's policies describe the inflation limit on the 3% step (from the 10th year) in different words. We apply the inflation cap to that step only.
What would settle it: Nevada PERS confirmation of which CPI measure limits the 3% step for post-2015 members.
When yours starts
Example: retirement effective January 1, increase effective February 1 and paid with the February benefit. Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 14 So retire January 1, 2026 and your first increase is February 1, 2029. Retire July 1, 2026 and it's August 1, 2029.
What it adds up to
Our illustration: $2,000 a month from July 1, 2026, on each group's schedule, and if every increase were held to the latest 2.87% cap.
| After year | Before 2010 | 2010 to mid-2015 | July 2015 on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3Aug 2029 | $2,040$2,040 | $2,040$2,040 | $2,040$2,040 |
| 5Aug 2031 | $2,122$2,122 | $2,122$2,122 | $2,122$2,122 |
| 8Aug 2034 | $2,319$2,310 | $2,319$2,310 | $2,286$2,286 |
| 10Aug 2036 | $2,484$2,445 | $2,484$2,445 | $2,425$2,419 |
| 12Aug 2038 | $2,674$2,587 | $2,674$2,587 | $2,572$2,560 |
| 15Aug 2041 | $3,066$2,817 | $3,008$2,817 | $2,811$2,786 |
Top figure: on schedule. Small figure: with every increase held to 2.87%. Our engine on Nevada PERS's schedule. For members enrolled from July 2015 we apply the cap only to the 3% step. The cap doesn't apply if your benefit has fallen behind inflation since you retired. Real increases depend on inflation each year.
- Survivor benefit recipients receive post-retirement increases the same way as retirees. Increases are included in an option beneficiary's allowance. Official Policies (2024), p. 50, Policy 9.18; NRS 286.575(2) (See survivor benefits.)
- Post-retirement increases are 100% taxable (federal). Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 13 (See taxes.)
The calculator shows your first increase date and your schedule in dollars.
Questions
Does Nevada PERS give a COLA?
Yes. Nevada PERS calls them post-retirement increases. They start in the fourth year of retirement, once a year, in the month after the month you retired.
How big are the increases?
Enrolled before January 1, 2010: up to 5% a year from the 15th year. Enrolled January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2015: up to 4%. Enrolled on or after July 1, 2015: up to 3%. Each increase is limited by a 3-year average of inflation.
What is the inflation cap now?
2.87% from September 1, 2025, for 12 months. The newest inflation cap we found took effect September 1, 2025. The cap for increases paid from September 1, 2026 wasn't in the sources.
Source: Nevada PERS Summary Plan Description for Regular Members, REV 8/25 (law through the 2025 Legislature). Also: Nevada PERS Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25) pp. 2, 13-14; Nevada PERS Official Policies (eff. Sept. 1, 2024) pp. 50, 66; Nevada PERS News (2025); NRS §§ 286.571, 286.574, 286.575, 286.5756. Last reviewed .