Two former Internal Revenue Service employees told 11Alive they were pushed into early retirement last year with little time to prepare
ATLANTA — Several retired IRS employees said they’ve been left without income, guidance or support for months after being forced into early retirement. Despite decades of public service, they claim promised pension payments have yet to arrive — leaving them financially stranded and desperate for answers.
Two former Internal Revenue Service employees told 11Alive they were pushed into early retirement last year with little time to prepare. Since then, they said they have received no income, no pension checks, and no meaningful communication from the government agency they once served.
“I’ve been with the Internal Revenue Service for 39 years. As of October 21, I’ve received nothing,” said one former employee.
Another woman said she worked for the IRS for 32 years before her retirement on Sept. 30. Both women shared that the decision to leave was not entirely voluntary. In April, they received a letter from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) giving them just a week to choose between early retirement or submitting a resume to justify keeping their positions.
“That letter gave us a seven-day time frame to determine whether we wanted to take early retirement or submit a resume explaining our careers,” one retiree said. “It felt like a forced choice.”
The confusion and pressure didn’t end there. According to one of the retirees, just weeks before receiving the letter, they were required to send weekly emails detailing their daily work — adding to the anxiety and uncertainty about their roles.
Now, months later, their financial situations have deteriorated. Initially, they were told they would receive annual leave checks, followed by a supplemental pension payment within 30 to 45 days, and then full retirement annuity payments within 60 to 90 days.
“We were supposed to get our checks by now,” one woman said. “But we haven’t received any income. Haven’t received any guidance, other than being told there are too many retirees for them to process everything.”
Both women said they’ve been assigned HR representatives, but once their retirement paperwork is submitted, communication seems to disappear. Even the IRS hotline meant to assist retirees hasn’t been helpful.11Alive reporters attempted to call and were unable to reach anyone.
“I’m sure we’re going to get it,” said one of the retirees. “But I’m just like — when? When are those payments going to come?”
For now, they rely on family for support and hope their stories will spark action.
“We just want our voices to be heard here in Georgia,” said one woman. “Because I know no one yet has received a full annuity check. No one.”
11Alive will continue to follow this developing story and seek answers from the IRS.