The processing time figures do not take into account the time an application is in the individual agency’s hands. Image: Nirat.pix/Shutterstock.com
During fiscal 2022 that ended in September OPM processed more than 100,000 federal retirement applications for the first time in three years, while the average processing time there for the year was 89 days, in comparison with its goal of 60 days.
The 114,505 applications processed were up from some 97,000 in fiscal 2021 and 99,500 in fiscal 2020, possibly reflecting a rebound from deferred retirements during those years due to the pandemic. It was the highest single-year total since the 138,000 of 2013.
The numbers include executive, legislative and judicial branch employees, with the former category including the USPS and the intelligence agencies. They reflect the number of applications OPM processed in the 12 months, not the number of employees who retired during that period, since employing agencies typically take several weeks if not longer in processing the applications before forwarding them to OPM.
The processing time figures do not take into account the time an application is in the individual agency’s hands. At the OPM stage, cases processed in less than 60 days on average took 37 days to complete, while cases processed in more than 60 days took 121 days to complete on average, OPM said.
While OPM has taken criticism from new retirees and members of Congress for years about the length of the processing time—during which retirees receive only a partial benefit, with the difference made up once a final determination is made—the agency in turn has often pointed to issues with processing by the agencies as contributing to delays by requiring back and forth among the agency and OPM.
In its latest release of data OPM did so again, citing DHS, Agriculture, HHS, Transportation and EPA as having notably high rates of such problems. Rates were lowest at agencies including USPS, GSA, Bureau of the Fiscal Service and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
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See also,
FEHB: Federal Benefits Fast Facts
FEHB Open Season Ahead – Time to Shop
Watch for ‘Significant’ FEHB Plan Changes, OPM Says
Enrollee Share of FEHB Premiums to Rise 8.7 Percent on Average for 2023
January Retirement COLA Set: 8.7 Percent for CSRS, 7.7 Percent for FERS
FERS Retirement Planning Bundle: 2022 FERS Guide & TSP Handbook