Information Type: Plan Details

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)


The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 3.1% for 2025 (click to view article) and was approved by the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners on April 3, 2025. 

Historical COLA Percentages is also available for viewing.

Determining the COLA

All eligible DROP participants, retired members, and beneficiaries are subject to an annual cost of living adjustment (“COLA”). The COLA takes effect on July 1 of every year and the adjustment is received accordingly in the July 31st pension payment/DROP account deposit.

Pursuant to the City of Los Angeles Charter and Administrative Code, the LAFPP COLA is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Specifically, we look at the change in the CPI for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area for the 12-month period beginning in March through February of the following year.

The LAFPP COLA is calculated differently from the COLA calculated by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Both COLAs are based on changes in the CPI determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; however, both the period measured and the population indexes used by SSA are different.

LAFPP determines eligibility requirements and how the COLA is applied based on the member’s tier.

 COLA MaximumCOLA Bank
Tiers 1 and 2UncappedNo
Tiers 3 and 4+/- 3%No
Tiers 5 and 6+/- 3%Yes
  • Tiers 1 and 2 have an uncapped COLA and are subject to a full COLA increase/decrease.
  • Tiers 3 and 4 have a 3% COLA cap and cannot incur an increase/decrease beyond the cap.
  • Tiers 5 and 6 have a 3% COLA cap and cannot incur an increase/decrease beyond the cap. In addition, they also have a COLA Bank to store any increases in the CPI greater than 3%, which can be applied in future years when the CPI is below 3%.

First-year retirees and DROP participants in Tiers 3-6 receive a COLA that is prorated by the number of complete months between their retirement effective date (or DROP entry date) and the following July 1.

What is a negative COLA?

In the event that the CPI is negative for the 12-month period used to measure the COLA (i.e., deflation), the LAFPP COLA would also be negative and the monthly pension benefit would be decreased by the negative COLA percentage. Any decrease is subject to the same provisions as an increase. It cannot exceed the 3% cap for Tiers 3-6, and Tiers 5 and 6 may use their COLA banks to offset the decrease, if a balance is available. Tiers 1 and 2 do not have a COLA cap and would incur the full decrease.

For all members, it is important to note that in the event of a negative COLA, the pension amount will not be reduced to less than the member’s or qualified survivor’s original pension amount.

Consumer Price Index/Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has made several changes to the CPI over the years and the most significant changes were last made in 2018. 

For more information, you may visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website at www.bls.gov/cpi and look for Regional Resources under CPI Data to find the Los Angeles area.  You may also review the step-by-step instructions on How to Access CPI Data.

Questions?

Retirement Services Section at (213) 279-3125 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.

For questions about the CPI, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website, or call (202) 691-7000.

Active Member Forms

Find all Active Member forms here. MyLAFPP is the preferred secure option for sending your documents to LAFPP. To find out more about and to access MyLAFPP, please click here.

Frequently Asked Forms

download this documentTiers 3 – 6 Beneficiary Designation Form

download this documentRequest for Service Credit Purchase Estimate

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

download this documentTier 2 – Beneficiary Designation Form*

download this documentTiers 3 – 6 – Beneficiary Designation Form*

*Available 24/7 on MyLAFPP. Visit our HelpDesk to view step-by-step instructions.

CHANGE OF E-EMAIL ADDRESS

download this documentChange of E-mail Address Form

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

download this documentDeclaration of Domestic Partnership

download this documentNotice of Termination of Domestic Partnership

DISABILITY

download this documentTiers 3-6 Disability Pension Information Booklet & Application

download this documentDisability Pension Survivor Application

DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE / OPT-IN ELECTION / DRC

download this documentDispute Resolution Committee Application (DRC)

PURCHASE SERVICE CREDIT

download this documentRequest for Service Credit Purchase Estimate*

download this documentApplication to Purchase Public Service*

download this documentApplication to Purchase Military Service*

*Available 24/7 on MyLAFPP. Visit our HelpDesk to view step-by-step instructions.

REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS

download this documentTier 3 – Request for Refund of Contributions Form

download this documentTier 5 – Request for Refund of Contributions Form

download this documentTier 6 – Request for Refund of Contributions Form

REQUEST FOR ESTIMATE

download this documentRequest for Service Pension/DROP Estimate/Community Property Division

REQUEST FOR CONTRIBUTIONS STATEMENT OR DIVORCE CONTRIBUTION LETTER

download this documentRequest for Contributions Statement/Divorce Contribution Letter

SERVICE RETIREMENT

download this documentApplication for Service Pension Form

download this documentCertification of Termination of Employment Relationship Form

download this documentCalifornia Income Tax Withholding Form

download this documentDirect Deposit Form

download this documentFederal Income Tax Withholding Form

download this documentFinal Average Salary Designation Form

download this documentPrior Assignment / Prior Hazard Pay

download this documentQualified Surviving Spouse or Dependent Partner Optional Pension Election Form

download this documentService Pension Rescission Notice Form

STATUTORY POWER OF ATTORNEY

download this documentStatutory Power of Attorney Form

Qualified Dependent Children Survivor Benefits

How to Qualify

To qualify for a Dependent Child survivor benefit, the child must be the natural or adopted child of the member, and must have been declared disabled and incapable of earning a livelihood prior to the age of 21. The child shall not be disqualified if he/she marries, or is subsequently adopted.

Please note: If a Dependent Child was previously disqualified due to marriage or adoption prior to May 1, 2009, upon request, Dependent Child benefits may be reinstated by contacting the Disability Pensions Section at (213) 279-3165, or (844) 88-LAFPP.

Dependent Child Documentation

Copies of documentation establishing the child’s disability may be submitted to LAFPP in advance. Documentation must declare the child disabled prior to the age of 21 and incapable of earning a living.

The following documents may be submitted:

  • Medical records
  • School records
  • Proof of Social Security benefits
  • Assisted living or institutionalization records

In addition, the following information, where applicable, is required:

  • Birth certificate
  • Member’s marriage certificate
  • Dissolution decree
  • Guardianship/conservatorship papers
  • Special Needs Trust information

Documentation may be submitted in person or mailed to:

Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions
Disability Pensions Section
701 East Third Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Please note: Early submission of Dependent Child documentation is suggested. However, the determination as to whether the child qualifies for Dependent Child benefits will not be made until after the member’s death, as provided in the Los Angeles City Charter and Administrative Code. At that time, written request for the child to be granted Dependent Child status will be required.

Monthly Benefit Amount

The amount of the monthly benefit will depend on:

  • What Tier the member was in.
  • If the member was active member and whether the death was service-connected or nonservice-connected.
  • If the member was retired.
  • The number of survivors qualified to receive a benefit.

If you have a Qualified Surviving Spouse (QSS) or Qualified Domestic Partner (QD): Dependent Child will receive a percentage of the QSS/QDP benefit. This amount is divided equally among the eligible children. Review the Survivor Benefits Section in the Summary Plan Description for your Tier.

If you have no QSS/QDP: Dependent Child will receive a monthly pension benefit equal to that which your QSS/QDP would have received (unmodified by the Optional Survivor Benefit for as long as the Dependent Child remain qualified. This amount is divided equally among the eligible children. 

Payment of Dependent Child Benefits

Payment provisions are the same for all children who qualify for Dependent Child survivor benefits regardless of the member’s pension plan Tier. Payment options include: 

  • If the member dies leaving a Qualified Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner who is the legal guardian or conservator of the Dependent Child, benefits are paid to the Qualified Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner on the Dependent Child’s behalf.
  • If the Board determines that the Dependent Child is an adult who is capable of managing his/ her own financial affairs, benefits may be paid directly to the Dependent Child.
  • If a Dependent Child is not capable of managing his/her own financial affairs, the benefits will be paid to the Dependent Child’s guardian or conservator over the estate.
  • The Board may authorize payment to the trustee of a Special Needs Trust that meets the criteria of 42 U.S.C. Section 1396p(d)(4)(A), (B) OR (C).

Questions?

For information on Dependent Child survivor benefits, please contact the Disability Pensions Section at (213) 279-3165 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.

Lost Service Time (LST)

Lost Service Time (LST), also known as “Bad Time,” is the number of calendar hours that, for any number of reasons, does not count toward your pension service time and will be subtracted from your years of service percentage calculation. Generally, it results from unpaid absences during which you did not make pension contributions. 

How We Calculate Your LST Hours

The personalized listing of your LST reflects calendar hours. There is an important difference between calendar hours and work hours.

For every pay period worked (see below for Fire Department platoon duty exception), you receive 14 calendar days of service credit or 0.038356 years of service.

To convert work hours/days to calendar hours/days, we multiply work hours/days by 1.4.

  • Example:

80 work hours x 1.4 = 112 calendar hours

10 work days x 1.4 = 14 calendar days

We “store” LST in calendar hours to simplify the years of service calculation. We take LST work hours and multiply it by 1.4 to arrive at the number of calendar hours. Then, we divide the number of calendar hours by 8 to arrive at the number of calendar days of LST you have. We then deduct the calendar days of LST from your years of service to arrive at your correct years of service. In cases where our records differ, we use the records of the employing department.

Example: If you have exactly 26 years of service but during this time you had 64 work hours of unpaid leave. Here is how we deduct your LST from your years of service:

  • To convert from work hours to calendar hours: 64 work hours multiplied by 1.4 = 89.6 calendar hours
  • To convert calendar hours to number of days: 89.6 calendar hours divided by 8 = 11.2 calendar days
  • To deduct from your total years of service: 26 years minus 11.2 calendar days = 25 years and 353.8 calendar days
  • To convert in years, divide the partial year by 365 days: 353.8 calendar days divided by 365 calendar days = 0.969315
  • Your total years of service is 25.969315

Calculating Bad Time/LST for Time on Platoon Duty

If your LST hours occurred while you were working platoon duty in the Fire Department, your work hours are equal to calendar hours. Similarly, your work days equal calendar days. Because of this, we can divide your platoon duty hours by 8 to arrive at the number of calendar days of service.

  • Example: In a two-week period you work 112 hours on platoon duty. If you divide 112 by 8, you get 14. This equals the number of calendar days of service in a two-week period. So, if you were out on unpaid leave for 64 work hours while on a 112- work schedule, you would have 64 calendar hours or 8 calendar days of LST.

Purchasing LST

Lost Service Time may not be purchased except for time when you received temporary disability under state Workers’ Compensation laws (State Rate).

Purchases may be made either by one lump sum payment, through payroll deduction, transfer from your Deferred Compensation account, rollover from another qualified retirement plan or any combination thereof. If you choose to pay through payroll deduction, regardless of when the purchase occurs, a service charge is applied to the entire contribution and interest amount.

If you are interested in purchasing your Workers’ Compensation, please submit the Request for Service Credit Purchase Estimate

All service credit purchases must be completed prior to retirement or entry into the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) Program.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Active Member Services Section at (213) 279-3140 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.

Domestic Partnerships

If you are considering filing a domestic partnership or already have an established filing, please read the following information on definitions, eligibility, notification, and other important details.

What is a Domestic Partnership?

Domestic partnership is defined as two adults who are in a committed relationship and meet all of the following requirements:

  • At least 18 years of age or have met the requirements of California Family Code Section 297.1
  • Not related by blood
  • Not married or a member of another domestic partnership, and
  • Capable of consenting to the domestic partnership

Why would I file a Domestic Partnership?

Your Qualified Domestic Partner may receive a lifelong survivor’s pension benefit, provided all eligibility and notification requirements are met or submitted upon your death. Qualified Domestic Partners receive the same survivorship benefits available under the Plan as a Qualified Surviving Spouse. You can read about survivor benefits in the Summary Plan Description for your Tier. 

Note: Filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with LAFPP does not create community property rights in the member’s pension benefits or inheritance rights to the member’s contributions.

Notify LAFPP of an existing Domestic Partnership

This is what you need to submit if you filed and established your domestic partnership with:

  • State of California -submit a copy of your state registration certificate. The certificate will be accepted, and the filing date with LAFPP will be the same as the effective date of your domestic partnership filing with the State.
  • City of Los Angeles Personnel Department or another City Department – submit proof of filing such as a stamped copy of the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership form you submitted or the acknowledgment letter you received from the Personnel Department or other City Department. LAFPP will acknowledge the date you filed with another City Department as the effective date of your domestic partnership with LAFPP.
  • With another agency or jurisdiction – submit similar documentary proof, subject to legal review by the Office of the City Attorney.

If you have never filed your domestic partnership, then file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with LAFPP.

Submit Your Domestic Partnership Documentation as Soon as Possible 

Should you die before you submit proof establishing your domestic partnership with any agency/department other than LAFPP, your domestic partner must submit documentation to be eligible for survivor benefits. Submit your documentation to us to avoid delays in processing survivor pension benefits.

Submit your documentation to Active Member Services:

  • Email: amssection@lafpp.com
  • Fax: (213) 628-7716
  • Mail to: 701 E. 3rd Street, #200, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Other Important Information

If you and your domestic partner are both LAFPP members, only one member needs to submit documentary proof of the domestic partnership filing. It will be cross-filed and will apply to both of your pension benefits.

A Domestic Partnership filed with LAFPP or anywhere else may supersede the beneficiary designation you have on file with LAFPP. Therefore, it is also very important to notify LAFPP of any domestic partnership termination as soon as possible.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Active Member Services Section at (213) 279-3140 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.

Manage Your Pension During Marriage Dissolution

Pension benefits and pension contributions are subject to community property laws and, as assets, they may be subject to division upon dissolution of marriage. If the Fire and Police Pension plan is “joined” in your dissolution of marriage proceeding, the Department will be bound by the court order and may be required to distribute a former spouse’s community property share of your pension or your contributions upon termination.

If a member remarries and subsequently dies leaving a qualified survivor, that survivor pension may be subject to division pursuant to the court order.

Under California Law, if a former spouse predeceases the retired member, the former spouse’s share may be passed on to the former spouse’s designated beneficiary.

Please include your name, last four digits of your Social Security number, date of hire, marriage date and date of dissolution of marriage or separation on any correspondence.

Please refer to the Dissolution of Marriage Guide for more information. 

Questions?

If you have any questions, you may contact the Active Member Services Section at (213) 279-3140 or Retirement Services Section at (213) 279-3125 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.

Disability Pensions

If you become injured or ill, you may be eligible for a disability pension. If approved, benefits will depend on whether the disability resulted from a service- or nonservice-connected illness or injury and the tier you are in.

The Disability Pension Brochure provides highlights of the disability benefits. For additional information, review the Disability Pension Information booklet:

download this documentTiers 3-6 Disability Pension Information Booklet & Application

Find additional useful information in HOW TO: Apply for a Disability Pension.

Details

When am I eligible for disability benefits?

Service-Connected Disability Pension (work-related):

You are eligible on the date you graduate from Fire or Police recruit training.

However, if you are a Tier 2 member, you are eligible on your date of hire.

Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension (nonwork-related):

You are eligible after you have five years of service credit.

What are my disability benefits?

Tier 2

Service-Connected Disability Pension (work-related):

Amounts are based on the degree of disability.

The Board determines the percentage within a range of 50% to 90% of your Normal Pension Base. In no case is your disability pension less than your accrued service pension.

Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension (nonwork-related):

The amount of your disability pension is equal to 40% of the Nonservice-Connected Pension Base, i.e., the highest monthly salary and length of service pay for a Police Officer III or Firefighter III when the pension becomes effective.

If you are eligible for a service pension with over 20 years of service when a Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension is awarded, you can elect to take a service pension instead.

Tiers 3 & 4

Service-Connected Disability Pension (work-related):

Amounts are based on the degree of disability. Your benefits are equal to a rating schedule adopted and used by the Board.

Your benefits are the greater of:

  • 30% of your Final Average Salary, or
  • 2% of your Final Average Salary for each year of service, up to 90% of your Final Average Salary.

You are eligible for cost of living adjustments (COLA) on your benefit from 0% to 3% per year.

Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension (nonwork-related):

Amounts are based on the degree of disability.

Benefits range between 30% and 50% of your Final Average Salary.

You are eligible for cost of living adjustments (COLA) on your benefit from 0% to 3% per year.

If you are eligible for a service pension with over 20 years (10 years for Tier 3) of service when a Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension is awarded, you can elect to take a service pension instead.

Tiers 5 & 6

Service-Connected Disability Pension (work-related):

Amounts are based on the degree of disability. Your benefits are equal to a rating schedule adopted and used by the Board.

Your benefits are the greater of:

  • 30% of your Final Average Salary, or
  • 2% of your Final Average Salary for each year of service, up to 90% of your Final Average Salary

You are eligible for cost of living adjustments (COLA) on your benefits, from 0% to 3% per year. Any additional COLA will be placed in a COLA bank.

Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension (nonwork-related):

Amounts are based on the degree of disability.

Benefits range between 30% and 50% of your Final Average Salary.

You are eligible for cost of living adjustments (COLA) on your benefit from 0% to 3% per year. Any additional COLA will be placed in a COLA bank.

If you are eligible for a service pension with over 20 years of service when a Nonservice-Connected Disability Pension is awarded, you can elect to take a service pension instead.

How does Workers’ Compensation affect my disability benefits?

The existence of an impairment or a Workers’ Compensation award does not guarantee a disability pension.

We are required to recapture all Workers’ Compensation benefits that have been or will be paid to a member who receives a disability pension. These include:

  • All cash awards,
  • State rate disability payments,
  • Vocational rehabilitation allowances, and
  • The amount the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board deducts from awards to pay for attorney’s fees.

NOTE: Injured-on-duty (IOD) payments are not recovered.

NOTE: Surviving Spouse’s pension is exempt from Workers’ Compensation recapture for a member’s prior injuries.

The City Charter further requires that:

  • A minimum of 25% of the monthly gross benefit be deducted to recover such awards received prior to the pension effective date, and
  • A dollar-for-dollar offset of Worker’s Compensation awards that continue beyond the effective date of a disability pension.

Therefore, if a member with a significant amount of prior awards is granted a disability pension with retroactive benefits, a substantial portion of the lump-sum retroactive pension payment may be withheld to satisfy the Workers’ Compensation recapture requirement.

Will the Board review my disability pension?

  • Disability pensions normally are paid for a member’s lifetime.
  • However, the Board has the authority to review disability status at any time. Pensioners may also request a review of their disability status by the Board.
  • As a result of the review, the percentage awarded may remain the same or may be adjusted upward, downward or terminated completely.
  • Disability retirees can be returned to active duty within five years if the disability no longer exists.
  • After five years, members found to be no longer disabled will have their pensions reduced to 30% of Final Average Salary (except Tier 2).

Questions?

If you have any questions, you may contact the Disability Pensions Section at (213) 279-3165 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP.