Although an increase in the CPI can add to your monthly retirement benefit payment, a decrease in the CPI can also affect the amount of money you receive every month. If, for example, the CPI is negative, you will begin retirement with a negative COLA bank, which will affect future COLAs. You will not receive any future COLAs until the accumulations in your COLA bank are positive. For more information about how a negative CPI affects your benefit, please read the Fall issue of Extra, which is also available on the SDCERA website. Login to read the letter sent to retiring members.