The OPM Retirement Backlog decreased by over 9% in September

Even though the OPM retirement backlog decreased by about 9% in September 2022, it is still a sizable figure as the year’s end draws near.

Only 8,086 new claims were received last month, while the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) processed 10,681 retirement claims. This assisted in cutting the backlog overall by 2,595. The current total is 26,642. This is still a considerable number, but it’s a positive change considering that it was close to 40,000 in the spring.

The backlog had reduced in September despite having one of the longest average monthly processing times this year. OPM processed retirement applications in an average of 92 days, second only to when it was 94 days in January.

September 2022 was a lot busier month compared to the previous five years. OPM received and processed more retirement claims than any other month since 2018.

However, the backlog was higher in 2021 than this year, according to the chart below.

Although the OPM retirement backlog has been decreasing, federal employees planning to retire soon can expect to wait several months for OPM to complete processing and finalizing their retirement papers.

The end of a calendar year is typically the busiest period for retirees. The usual influx of retirement applications that usually flood between January and February will be countered if OPM can progress in lowering the backlog during the last quarter of the year.

OPM Retirement Backlog as of September 2022

After approval, disability determinations are counted among the pending requests. The average processing time in days is from when OPM receives the retirement application until the decision is made.

On average, initial retirement cases produced in less than 60 days took 38 days to complete, whereas those produced in more than 60 days took 125 days.

Incomplete applications adding to backlogs

Incomplete applications that call for backtracking also cause delays. OPM lacks the data required to complete processing in up to 40% of applications.

OPM has taken measures to resolve understaffing issues, including employing overtime pay and hiring more staff. An investigation by GAO discovered that OPM did not track productivity in overtime or link overtime data to application processing statistics.

Even though it was an OPM standard practice to use increased overtime compensation during peak retirement periods, the number of applications processed did not increase over the fiscal years 2013 to 2017.

According to OPM officials, hiring freezes, continuing resolutions, and other budgetary restrictions have reduced hiring rates and caused hiring delays over the last five fiscal years.

Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger’s office in Texas cites OPM data demonstrating that straightforward requests like those for direct deposit can typically be resolved in less than 30 days in the best-case scenario.

When OPM calculates processing time, they count the days from receiving the retirement application until the decision is made.

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