As the fallout from the Deferred Resignation Program and the uncertainty surrounding the federal workforce continue to play out, OPM received 23,393 federal retirement claims in November. Though the deadline for the DRP was September 30, employees who would become retirement eligible by the end of the year were given an extension.
The introduction of the Online Retirement Application (ORA) was intended to streamline the antiquated method of manual processing of federal retirement claims. Of the 23,393 claims received in November, roughly ⅓ or 7,833 were digital, and 15,560 were paper. The average time to process digital applications was 38 days in comparison to 94 days for paper applications. While the backlog continues to grow, Retirement Services (RS) processed 4,363 of the digital claims received and 4,344 of the paper applications. Currently, the backlog stands at 13,835 digital applications and 34,561 paper versions for a total inventory of 48,396 federal retirement applications awaiting processing.
Here’s how the numbers stack up YTD*:
January 2025: 16,101
February 2025: 9,637
March 2025: 7,803
April 2025: 8,332
May 2025: 15,048
June 2025:13,430
July 2025: 8,295
August 2025: 9,416
September 2025: 6,095
October 2025: 20,344
November 2025: 23,393
Jan – November 2025: 137,894
Mistakes or missing information in federal retirement applications can significantly delay processing, postponing your access to full benefits. The most common mistakes include incomplete personal identification details, incorrect marital status documentation, and discrepancies in federal service records.
Not sure if you’re retirement ready? Overwhelmed by navigating the complex process of federal retirement? Reach out to a Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) who understands your unique benefits.
