Retirement Application Backlog Builds but Use of Portal Showing Some Impact

The number of applications, the backlog and the average processing time have been increasing in recent months, largely reflecting those who retired at the end of deferred resignation periods. Image: ChadaYui/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek Staff

The inventory of retirement applications pending at OPM grew in November to about 49,400 from the 34,600 in October, although the average processing time there decreased from 79 to 73 days, as use of the online portal OPM launched in the summer is starting to show some impact.

The 23,400 applications received during the month, was about 3,000 more than those received in October, according to OPM’s latest accounting, which now breaks out numbers and processing times by those received through the Online Retirement Application site vs. paper applications.

The 7,800 that came through the portal was up from about 6,200 in October and the average processing time for them was 38 days, compared with 45 in October. In contrast, the average processing time for paper claims was 94 days. “With systematic checks of data, annuitants experience less delays due to missing information or incomplete packages,” the summary says.

In both months, OPM processed about 8,700 claims, with processing of claims from the portal—which is in growing, but not universal, use across agencies—accounting for about 4,400 of those, compared with the 1,700 of October.

The number of applications, the backlog and the average processing time have been increasing in recent months, largely reflecting those who retired at the end of deferred resignation periods—which in general ended September 30, although some were later.

The monthly numbers reflect applications received by OPM, not those who retired in that month. Before reaching OPM, applications pass through agency personnel and payroll office review, lasting from as little as about a week to a month or more.

Also, the average processing time figures at OPM do not reflect that in some cases the wait for new retirees can be much longer.

During the processing time at OPM, retirees receive interim payments of a rough estimate of their benefits due, although time is required to begin them, as well. OPM has said it is working to speed up those payments.

Separately, there always is a surge of retirements around the turn of the year for reasons including maximizing payments for unused annual leave; those applications typically are mostly reflected in data covering applications received by OPM in January and February. In some cases, retirements that otherwise would have been part of that surge may already have occurred due to retirements at the end of deferred resignation periods.

VA Announces Reorganization of Health Branch, Says Cutting Jobs Isn’t the Goal

Retirement Application Backlog Builds but Use of Portal Helping

USDA Asks for Input on Reorg Plan, and Gets It

OPM Previews Plans to Seek Forced Ratings Distribution for All Federal Employees

USPS Business Model ‘Unsustainable,’ Says GAO

Precedent Is in Favor of 4-Day Xmas Weekend