There is hereby provided, commencing October 1, 1988, to each person whose effective date of retirement for purposes of receiving benefits from the Teachers' Retirement System is prior to October 1, 1987, and to beneficiaries of deceased members or deceased retirees provided the date of death for such deceased member or the effective date of retirement for such deceased retiree for purposes of receiving benefits from the Teachers' Retirement System was prior to October 1, 1987, and who is receiving a monthly allowance from the Teachers' Retirement System a cost-of-living increase as follows:
Ala. Code § 16-25-40 (1975)