Colorado FPPA Occupationally Disabled Retirees for Fair COLAs
Our Mission
We are a growing group of retired public safety professionals living with occupational disabilities—firefighters, law enforcement officers, and their supporters—united in advocating for fair, consistent cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for those forced to retire early due to duty-related injuries.
This initiative brings together injured retirees and their allies to raise awareness, share accurate information, and demand meaningful policy reform. The cost of living in Colorado has surged—rising approximately 36.5% between 2015 and 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator, 2025; Colorado Inflation Data – in2013dollars.com, 2025). Yet some occupationally disabled retirees have received only one COLA of less than $9 in nearly a decade. Meanwhile, the costs of housing, healthcare, and daily essentials continue to rise.
Our mission is to unite and empower members, educate the public, and urge Colorado lawmakers and FPPA leadership to revise outdated policies that have left many behind. Together, our voices are stronger—and more necessary than ever.
Understanding FPPA’s Position
Like many FPPA retirees, we are increasingly disheartened as the years pass without receiving cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Despite repeated outreach by retirees, FPPA staff and board members have consistently offered the same explanation—a position that has remained largely unchanged.
In its 2025 response to renewed inquiries, FPPA leadership reaffirmed its long-standing policy of excluding occupationally disabled members from COLA eligibility.
The Statewide Death & Disability (D&D) Plan, established in the 1970s, provides 50% of pre-disability earnings to members classified as occupationally disabled. FPPA assumes these individuals can still work in some capacity and thus excludes them from COLA eligibility.
Only those deemed totally disabled—unable to work in any capacity—qualify for fixed COLA increases.
In 2025, the FPPA reaffirmed this stance, citing:
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A reported $58.5 million shortfall in the D&D Plan.
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Concerns that expanding COLAs would increase financial strain.
However, this policy ignores the reality: being classified as occupationally disabled—regardless of one’s capacity to pursue alternative employment—should not disqualify a retiree from fair cost-of-living adjustments. Inflation continues to erode the value of these fixed benefits, placing all occupationally disabled members at long-term financial risk.
Why This Policy Must Change
The current COLA policy falls short of the values it claims to uphold.
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Fails to reflect the long-term consequences of duty-related injuries—whether physical, psychological, or financial.
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Creates avoidable financial instability for those who can no longer serve due to line-of-duty disability.
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Applies outdated assumptions about earning capacity that do not align with today’s medical, economic, or public safety realities.
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Undermines the FPPA’s own principles of fairness and service.
Colorado’s public safety retirees deserve a system that evolves with the times. It is time for FPPA leadership and state lawmakers to modernize this policy—ensuring that all occupationally disabled members receive equitable, inflation-protected benefits that honor their service and sacrifice.
Why This Affects All First Responders—Now and in the Future
Every active-duty firefighter and police officer lives one call away from a career-ending injury. If current policies don’t protect today’s injured retirees, tomorrow’s injured heroes will face the same neglect.
Fair cost-of-living adjustments are not a gesture—they’re a necessity. They ensure that those injured while serving their communities are not left behind as costs rise. This is not just about retirement security—it’s about honoring commitments, preserving dignity, and ensuring financial stability for the decades that follow service.
By advocating for COLA reform today, we are not only defending the dignity of those already injured—we are protecting the next generation of public safety professionals.
Who Is Receiving COLAs—and Who Is Being Left Out?
In October 2024, FPPA awarded a 0.14% compounding cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a 3.66% one-time lump sum payment to eligible retirees in the Statewide Retirement Plan (SRP) (FPPA Board Minutes – October 3, 2024).
These increases were granted under FPPA’s revised COLA framework, which allows for limited compounding adjustments and supplemental lump-sum payments when inflation (as measured by the CPI-W) exceeds the system’s affordability threshold.
However, these COLAs were not extended to occupationally disabled retirees in the Statewide Death & Disability (SWDD) Plan—even though many of these individuals suffered career-ending injuries in the line of duty (FPPA Board Minutes – October 3, 2024).
Under current FPPA policy, occupationally disabled members are categorically excluded from receiving compounding COLAs unless they meet rare exceptions, such as 15 years of combined service and disability, or being classified as totally disabled (unable to work in any capacity).
This disparity raises serious questions of fairness. If FPPA has the financial capacity to issue inflation-based COLAs to SRP retirees—as it did in 2024—why are those injured in the line of duty denied the same inflation protection?
Financial Priorities and Transparency
Despite the FPPA's claims of financial stress:
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FPPA reported $845 million in net investment gains in 2023 (FPPA Annual Comprehensive Financial Report – 2024).
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The system manages over $8.1 billion in assets (FPPA Annual Report – 2024).
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The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report offers a detailed breakdown of FPPA’s:
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Financial status and investment performance
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Administrative expenses and plan funding
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Demographic data on employers and members system-wide
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At the same time:
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COLAs remain frozen for most occupationally disabled retirees.
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Executive pay increased from $403,000 to $455,000 between 2024 and 2025, with full performance incentives awarded both years (FPPA Board Minutes - February 15, 2024; FPPA Board Minutes -- February, 27, 2025).
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On December 12, 2024, FPPA approved retention bonuses of up to 20% of base salary per year for Executive leadership ; (FPPA Board Minutes – December 12, 2024).
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Under current policy, occupationally disabled retirees in the SWDD Plan are not eligible for compounding COLAs unless they have received benefits for at least 15 years—and even then, may receive only 1.0% (FPPA Annual Rates – 2026).
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In contrast, totally disabled members receive a guaranteed 3.0% COLA annually, and SRP retirees received a 0.27% compounding COLA and 2.63% lump sum in 2025 (FPPA Annual Rates – 2026).
2025 FPPA Personnel and Staff Education Budget Snapshot:
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Total Personnel Costs: $9,684,870 (31.23% increase over prior year)
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Salaries: $6,732,272
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Employee Benefits: $2,748,423
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Employment Programs: $155,000 (81.61% utilized)
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Staff Education: $232,570 budgeted, with 29.81% expended early in the year. (FPPA Board Packet – June 13, 2025)
*All compensation figures are cited solely to provide context in the discussion of policy priorities, not to reflect on any individual’s character or performance. These figures are not intended as criticism of compensation practices, but rather to underscore FPPA’s discretionary spending power and its capacity to revisit outdated policies affecting occupationally disabled retirees.
These facts raise critical questions about policy priorities. If the system can sustain generous executive compensation, it raises an important question: why can’t it also safeguard the purchasing power of those injured in service?
This position has not changed in several years, despite rising inflation and increasing financial hardship for occupationally disabled retirees who are often unable—or limited in their ability—to return to the workforce due to injury, illness, or service-related trauma.
For transparency, you may review official minutes from FPPA’s Board of Directors meetings, which document discussions on executive compensation, financial performance, and other critical policy issues.
Investment Strength Confirms FPPA Can Do More
Recent FPPA Investment Committee minutes confirm the fund’s robust health:
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Investment returns in 2023 and 2024 significantly exceeded benchmarks (FPPA Investment Committee Minutes – April 17, 2024; December 11, 2024).
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Tens of millions in new investment commitments were made throughout 2024 (FPPA Investment Committee Minutes – August 7, 2024).
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Rising internal costs, including performance-based investment fees and bonuses, highlight an imbalance between leadership compensation and retiree support (FPPA Board Minutes – December 12, 2024).
If FPPA has the flexibility to increase internal spending and expand its investment footprint, it must also find the will to provide basic inflation protection to those who were injured while serving their communities.
Help Strengthen Our Advocacy with Your Insights
Have relevant information, documents, or updates that could support this initiative?
Whether you’ve contacted a legislator, received a response from FPPA, or have documentation to share, your insight strengthens our collective efforts. This campaign depends on transparent information and collaboration among retirees, families, and supporters statewide.
Your contribution—no matter how small—can help shape a fairer future for all occupationally disabled retirees.
How You Can Help
- Write a short letter or email describing your experience and your concerns. (See the sample email guide below.)
- Email or mail your letter to the contacts below.
- Share this message with other occupationally disabled retirees, as well as their family members and supporters.
- Encourage coordinated outreach—legislators are more likely to act when they hear from multiple constituents on the same issue.
Your Voice Makes a Difference
Whether you’re a retiree, family member, or concerned citizen, your voice matters. By taking a few minutes to reach out, you help drive progress toward fairness and long-overdue COLA reform.
Help Restore COLAs for Occupationally Disabled FPPA Retirees
Below is the contact information for state legislators, the Governor’s office, and FPPA Board members who influence policy decisions regarding COLA eligibility.
Sample Email Guide
When writing to a legislator, FPPA leader, or public official, your personal story carries weight. A clear and respectful message—including your background, how the lack of COLAs has impacted you, and your specific policy request—can make a powerful difference.
Your email should include:
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Who you are and your connection to FPPA
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The year you retired due to an occupational disability and a summary of your cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) history
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Impact of inflation on your daily life
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A brief description of your injury or health limitations
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A request to support COLA reform for occupationally disabled retirees
Be sincere, respectful, and specific. Your individual story helps humanize this issue and shows the real-world impact of current policy.
Contact the Colorado House Finance Committee
The House Finance Committee oversees legislation affecting state pensions and public finance, including FPPA policy.
Request: Urge the committee to make COLA reform for occupationally disabled retirees a legislative priority.
Contact Governor Jared Polis
The Governor plays a key role in shaping the legislative agenda, approving budgets, and promoting transparency in state-run retirement systems.
Ways the Governor Can Help:
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Publicly endorse COLA reform
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Request independent audits or reviews
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Support legislative and budgetary action
Contact Your State Legislators
Your Colorado state senator and representative need to hear from you. Lawmakers respond to constituents—your voice matters.
Contact the FPPA Board of Directors
The FPPA Board oversees management of disability and retirement benefits. Share how the lack of COLAs impacts you or your family.
Contact FPPA Executive Director Kevin Lindahl
As Executive Director, Mr. Lindahl plays a critical role in policy development and board communication.
To help ensure your message reaches the right person, you may email your correspondence with a note indicating it is intended for Executive Director Kevin Lindahl.
Frequently Asked Questions
This initiative is intended to be a collaborative effort—driven by the voices, experiences, and concerns of FPPA retirees across Colorado. We are committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information to the best of our ability. However, if you find any information on this website that is incorrect, outdated, or missing, we welcome your input.
Please send an email to cola4retirees@gmail.com to share corrections, suggestions, or resources you’d like to see included. Together, we can strengthen this platform and make it a more informative and impactful tool for all occupationally disabled retirees advocating for fair treatment and cost-of-living equity.
Disclaimer
This website is an independent, volunteer-led advocacy project created by a retired FPPA member. All content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the views of individual contributors. It is not affiliated with the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA), the State of Colorado, or any governmental agency. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, users are encouraged to verify key facts through official sources.
This site does not provide legal, financial, or retirement planning advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals for guidance related to individual circumstances.
Use of this site is for informational purposes only. The initiative and its contributors are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided.
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