Once you meet the eligibility requirements, including age and number of years retired, your retirement benefit will permanently increase each year. You will begin receiving COLA when you are:

• 62 or older and retired for five or more years; or
• 55 or older and retired for ten or more years; or
• Receiving a disability pension for five or more years.

When you die, if you selected an option that pays a lifetime benefit to your beneficiary, and the beneficiary is your spouse at the time of death, he or she will be eligible to receive half of the COLA amount you would have been entitled to receive.

Once you become eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment, your benefit will include either the COLA or escalation (if eligible), whichever adjustment provides the greater benefit.