ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

Pensions

Traditional Pension Plans

Will my pension benefits rise over the years?

Perhaps. Your union may negotiate cost-of-living increases with your employer. Or a nonunion employer may increase benefits voluntarily. But generally your benefits are frozen at the level they were at when you retired. You also probably will be collecting Social Security benefits, however, and those benefits do rise with the cost of living.