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2019 Social Security and federal civilian pension COLAs

Summary ETA informed states that Social Security old-age and survivors annuities and federal civilian pensions would receive 2019 cost-of-living adjustments. It pointed states to the Office of Personnel Management for civilian pension information relevant to unemployment benefit calculations. ETA’s current advisory listing labels the letter Canceled.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
UIPL No. 04-19
Date issued
December 19, 2018
Status
Withdrawn
ETA’s advisory listing labels this letter Canceled as of 2026-10-24, although its accessible PDF prints “Rescissions: None” and “Expiration Date: Continuing.” No separate cancellation instrument is identified.
Status last verified October 24, 2026

Is this still the rule?

This document has been withdrawn.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This document has been withdrawn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’s advisory listing labels this letter Canceled as of 2026-10-24, although its accessible PDF prints “Rescissions: None” and “Expiration Date: Continuing.” No separate cancellation instrument is identified. 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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.
CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                  UI
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                             CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                         OUI/DUIO
             Washington, D.C. 20210                        DATE
                                                           December 19, 2018

ADVISORY:        UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 04-19

TO:              STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:            MOLLY E. CONWAY /s/
                 Acting Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:         Social Security Annuities and Federal Civilian Pensions

1. Purpose. To ensure that states are aware that: 1) the social security survivors and old age
   retirement annuities and the Federal civilian pensions annual cost-of-living adjustment
   (COLA) will increase for calendar year 2019 and 2) COLA information is located on the U.S.
   Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

2. Action Requested. State Administrators should provide the information contained in this
   Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) to appropriate staff.

3. Summary and Background.

   Summary. This UIPL provides the website link to the 2019 COLA information and informs
   states to make necessary programming adjustments to accommodate the COLA increase.

   Background. Each year, OPM posts the COLA information for social security survivors and
   old age retirement annuities and Federal civilian pensions on its website. The 2019 COLA
   information is located at: https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/my-annuity-and-
   benefits/annuity-payments/#url=Cost-of-Living.

4. Instructions. States that have laws requiring a reduction of the unemployment insurance
   (UI) weekly benefit amount by the prorated weekly amount of retired pay and pensions
   should program the increase in the COLA amount for 2019 into their UI systems.

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

 RESCISSIONS                                              EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                     Continuing

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