Eligible Government of Guam retirees have received a supplemental $200 Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) payment authorized under Public Law 37-135, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced Wednesday. The additional payment comes on top of the $2,300 base COLA distributed last October and is separate from the upcoming FY 2026 COLA scheduled for release by Nov. 1.
The supplemental benefit was funded through $1.5 million in excess General Fund revenues appropriated by the Guam Legislature. “Guam’s retirees have dedicated their lives to serving our island. This additional $200 payment recognizes their service and fulfills the commitment made by law to share excess revenues with our retirees in FY 2025,” Leon Guerrero said.
The governor noted that while annual audits are typically used to verify revenue surpluses, the law required the payment to be made this fiscal year. She also cautioned that the added COLA was only possible because of prior-year strong revenues, emphasizing the importance of fiscal responsibility in sustaining such benefits.
However, officials clarified that retirees of autonomous agencies were excluded because the statute lacked language to cover them. Leon Guerrero thanked the Government of Guam Retirement Fund for processing the payments promptly and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting retirees.