OPM will start accepting applications for phased retirement effective next Thursday (November 6) but it remains uncertain how many, if any, employing agencies will be ready to offer it to their employees that soon. OPM for example has drafted the form and instructional materials needed, which will be used in conjunction with standard retirement forms, but will not post the final version on its site until that date. Also, agencies have had only two months to sort through the numerous policy decisions left in their hands by OPM’s final rules, including issues such as standards and procedures for considering employee requests, potential limits on the duration of any that are approved, specifics of carrying out the requirement that phased retirees spend a fifth of their time in mentoring activities, and more. To date, no agencies apparently have said definitely that they will be ready to accept applications as of the launch date, while several—including the largest, DoD—have said they won’t be ready until sometime next year.