1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to address an unfair provision in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) that denies cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirees until they reach age 62. I am 58 years old and a FERS annuitant. Although I am fully retired, my pension is frozen in time while my cost of living is not. Like millions of Americans, I face rising food prices, higher utility costs, and rapidly increasing health care expenses. My federal health insurance premium alone is increasing by 18% for 2026, yet my retirement income remains unchanged. This policy effectively penalizes federal employees who retire before age 62, even if they have met all service requirements. Meanwhile, inflation steadily erodes the value of my pension each year. By the time I become eligible for COLAs, I will have absorbed years of lost purchasing power that can never be recovered. Congress should act to eliminate this inequity and provide COLAs to all FERS retirees, regardless of age. Federal retirees should not be forced to fall behind financially simply because of an arbitrary age threshold. I respectfully ask you to support legislation that corrects this injustice and ensures that FERS retirees are treated fairly and protected from inflation. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.