Retirees

Retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees (collectively, payees) rely on the benefits provided by the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System to help them enjoy their years of retirement. This overview deals with how the benefits provided to payees may be affected during retirement and how the Maryland State Retirement Agency assists payees while they receive their monthly retirement allowances.

At retirement, each new retiree receives by mail a brochure featuring handy information for Maryland State Retirement and Pension System payees.

After You Retire brochure

Cost-of-Living Adjustment Update February 23, 2026

An interruption in economic data reporting from the federal government has presented a challenge in calculating the rate for payees’ July 2026 cost-of-living adjustment. Despite this challenge, retirees can be assured that this year’s COLA increase will be paid.

What is the COLA?

Retirees of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System count on the annual cost-of-living adjustment to help mitigate the impact of inflation on their benefits. The rate of the annual COLA increase is based on a formula set in state law. The COLA formula uses the annual average of Consumer Price Index figures generated by the federal government. The Consumer Price Index, or CPI, measures the increases in prices for consumer goods and services.

After the COLA rate is calculated using this formula, legislative caps may limit the amount applied to benefit payments. These caps do not affect how the COLA rate is computed; the caps simply limit maximum increase.

For more information on the COLA, click here.

Changing Your Mailing Address

In order for the Maryland State Retirement Agency to mail your annual 1099-R tax document, the bi-annual Retiree News and Notes newsletter and advice slips, it is important that you notify the Retirement Agency when you change your mailing address. Just log into mySRPS to update your contact information.

You can also change your address by completing:

Form 77: Contact Information Change Request.

Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLA)

Payees may be eligible to receive COLAs on their retirement allowance each July. The adjustment is tied to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index. A member must be retired at least one year as of July 1 to be eligible to receive that year’s increase.

The COLA rate is announced every year under News.