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Title 5

Displaying title 5, up to date as of 8/05/2026. Title 5 was last amended 8/03/2026.
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  1. Title 5 —Administrative Personnel
  2. Chapter I —Office of Personnel Management
  3. Subchapter B —Civil Service Regulations
  4. Part 591 —Allowances and Differentials
  5. Subpart B   View Full Text
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Title 5Administrative PersonnelPart / Section
Chapter IOffice of Personnel Management1 – 1199
Subchapter BCivil Service Regulations110 – 990
Part 591Allowances and Differentials591.101 – 591.406
Subpart BCost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential—Nonforeign Areas591.201 – 591.244
§ 591.201Definitions.
Cost-of-Living Allowances and Post Differentials591.202 – 591.205
§ 591.202Why does the Government pay COLAs?
§ 591.203Why does the Government pay post differentials?
§ 591.204Who can receive COLAs and post differentials?
§ 591.205Which areas are nonforeign areas?
Cost-of-Living Allowances591.206 – 591.229
§ 591.206How does OPM establish COLA areas?
§ 591.207Which areas are COLA areas?
§ 591.208How does OPM establish COLA rates?
§ 591.209What is a price index?
§ 591.210What are weights?
§ 591.211What are the categories of consumer expenditures?
§ 591.212How does OPM select survey items?
§ 591.213What prices does OPM collect?
§ 591.214How does OPM collect prices?
§ 591.215Where does OPM collect prices in the COLA and DC areas?
§ 591.216How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?
§ 591.217In which outlets does OPM collect prices?
§ 591.218How does OPM compute price indexes?
§ 591.219How does OPM compute shelter price indexes?
§ 591.220How does OPM calculate energy utility cost indexes?
§ 591.221How does OPM compute the consumer expenditure weights it uses to combine price indexes?
§ 591.222How does OPM use the expenditure weights to combine price indexes?
§ 591.223When does OPM conduct COLA surveys?
§ 591.224How does OPM adjust price indexes between surveys?
§ 591.225Which CPIs does OPM use?
§ 591.226How does OPM apply the CPIs?
§ 591.227What adjustment factors does OPM add to the price indexes?
§ 591.228How does OPM convert the price index plus adjustment factor to a COLA rate?
§ 591.229How does OPM inform agencies and employees of COLA rate changes?
Post Differentials591.230 – 591.234
§ 591.230When does OPM establish post differential areas?
§ 591.231Which areas are post differential areas?
§ 591.232How does OPM establish and review post differentials?
§ 591.233Who can receive a post differential?
§ 591.234Under what circumstances may people recruited locally receive a post differential?
Program Administration591.235 – 591.244
§ 591.235When do COLA and post differential payments begin?
§ 591.236When do COLA and post differential payments end?
§ 591.237Under what circumstances may employees on leave or travel receive a COLA and/or post differential?
§ 591.238How do agencies pay COLAs and post differentials?
§ 591.239How do agencies treat COLAs and post differentials for the purpose of overtime pay and other entitlements?
§ 591.240How are agency and employee representatives involved in the administration of the COLA and post differential programs?
§ 591.241What are the key activities of the COLA Advisory Committees?
§ 591.242What is the tenure of a COLA Advisory Committee?
§ 591.243How many members are on each COLA Advisory Committee?
§ 591.244How does OPM select COLA Advisory Committee members?
Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 591
Places and Rates at Which Allowances Are Paid
Appendix B to Subpart B of Part 591
Places and Rates At Which Differentials Are Paid
eCFR Content