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2008 military pension cost-of-living increases

Summary ETA supplied military retired pay cost-of-living percentages effective December 2007 and told states with pension-offset laws to identify affected unemployment claimants and apply state law. ETA now lists this year-specific letter as Canceled.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
UIPL No. 3-08
Date issued
December 28, 2007
Status
Withdrawn
ETA lists this letter Canceled as of 2026-10-24; its PDF prints an expiration date of December 28, 2008.
Status last verified October 24, 2026

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This document has been withdrawn. Ezel checks what federal law requires today, under current federal labor law, and answers your situation with citations.

This document has been withdrawn
ETA lists this letter Canceled as of 2026-10-24; its PDF prints an expiration date of December 28, 2008. It no longer reflects the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.
UIPL3-08acc.pdf (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/UIPL/2007/UIPL3-08acc.pdf)

                                                            CLASSIFICATION
         EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING                            UI
      ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY SYSTEM                        CORRESPONDENCE
                                                            SYMBOL
         U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                           OWS/DUIO
            Washington, D.C. 20210                          DATE
                                                            December 28, 2007

ADVISORY:            UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 3-08

TO:                  STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:                EMILY STOVER DeROCCO /s/
                     Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:             Increase in Federal Military Pensions

1. Purpose. To ensure State Workforce Agencies are aware of the Federal military
   retired pay annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) and to provide the Department
   of Defense Web site where the COLA information is located.

2. Background. Military COLA increases were effective December 1, 2007, based on
   the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Military retired pay, by law, is
   always rounded down to the next lower dollar amount. The term "retired pay"
   includes retainer pay and the term "member" includes former members.

3. COLA for Retired Pay. The COLA increase for those individuals who first became a
   member of a uniformed service before September 8, 1980, is 2.3%.

   The COLA increases for those who became members of a uniformed service on or
   after September 8, 1980, are determined by the effective date of their retirement as
   follows:

   Retirement Effective                  Percent Increase            10 U.S.C. Authority

   Before January 1, 2007                2.3 percent                     1401a(b)(2)

   January 1 - March 31, 2007            2.3 percent                     1401a(d)

   April 1 - June 30, 2007               2.3 percent                     1401a(d)

   July 1 – September 30, 2007           0.2 percent                     1401a(d)

   October 1 – December 31, 2007         0.0 percent                     1401a(d)

   The above information is on the Department of Defense Web site located at:

   http://www.dfas.mil/retiredpay/costoflivingallowancecola.html.

 RESCISSIONS                                           EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                  December 28, 2008




4. Instructions. States with laws that require a reduction of the UI weekly benefit
   amount by the prorated weekly amount of retired pay and pensions should identify
   claimants affected by the COLA increases and make the appropriate reductions as
   required by state law.

5. Action Required. State Administrators are requested to provide the above
   information to appropriate staff.

6. Inquiries. Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

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