Due to COVID-19, the Division of Retirement and Benefits is aware that many retirees who are eligible for the Alaska Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) are not able to return to Alaska when they originally intended, due to travel restrictions or shelter-in-place orders. This may affect their eligibility to receive COLA by not meeting the requirement to return to Alaska within 90 days of their departure date.

If you are someone who meets the other eligibility requirements for COLA and had intended or intend to return to Alaska but are unable to do so, you may be eligible for a waiver of any COLA overpayment.

COLA payments will not be stopped during this time except for members who have moved outside of Alaska or who have previously notified the Division they will not be back to Alaska within the 90 days. A true-up will occur once travel risks and/or restrictions are lifted.

Upon your return to Alaska, you will need to do the following:

• Complete the Application for Alaska Cost-of-Living Allowance COVID-19 Waiver form (02-1896c)
• Complete the COLA Return to Alaska Notification form (02-1896a)
• Copy all documentation that shows your original date of intent to return to Alaska. (For example, a copy of a cancelled airline ticket or reservations.)
• Copy documentation (e.g. a newspaper clipping) indicating the travel restrictions or shelter-in-place orders that prevented you from traveling from the area you were in.
• Mail or hand deliver all the above documents and forms to the Division.

Mail to:
Division of Retirement and Benefits
P.O. Box 110203
Juneau, AK 99811-0203

Physical address:
Juneau
State Office Building, 6th Floor
333 Willoughby Ave.

Anchorage
Robert B. Atwood Building
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1200