The article covers:

• Social Security’s annual COLAs, which are pegged to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure of inflation
• How public employees’ participation in Social Security varies by state and industry
• Average COLAs in public pension plans whose members are ineligible for Social Security and in plans that allow members to participate in Social Security

As inflation increases, members not participating in Social Security who receive a typical COLA — or no COLA — will lose net purchasing power and likely fall behind public sector employees who participate in Social Security. These plans may find retirees struggling to keep up with rising costs, especially during years of high inflation.

It includes illuminating graphs on the Social Security participation rate of public employees by state, average Social Security COLAs for 10-year periods, and monthly annuity payments under three COLA scenario graphs, as well as a table comparing annual Social Security COLAs and the cumulative increase for two 10-year periods.