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.

	Claims Received	Claims Processed	Total Backlog
September 2022	8,086	10,681	26,642
September 2021	7,589	7,344	28,810
September 2020	6,244	6,540	18,274
September 2019	7,456	7,656	17,376
September 2018	7,142	7,027	17,628

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

Month	Claims Received	Claims Processed	Inventory (Steady state goal is 13,000)	Monthly Average Processing Time in Days	FYTD Average Processing Time in Days
Oct-20	8,323	6,992	19,605	77	77
Nov-20	5,876	5,459	20,022	74	76
Dec-20	5,135	5,470	19,687	74	75
Jan-21	13,850	6,569	26,968	85	78
Feb-21	7,495	8,003	26,460	77	78
Mar-21	9,664	8,756	27,368	69	76
Apr-21	9,414	11,396	25,386	71	75
May-21	7,684	8,451	24,619	70	74
Jun-21	7,264	6,884	24,999	78	75
Jul-21	8,922	6,920	27,001	91	76
Aug-21	8,976	7,412	28,565	93	78
Sep-21	7,589	7,344	28,810	94	79
Oct-21	8,006	10,711	26,105	95	95
Nov-21	8,266	8,010	26,361	79	88
Dec-21	7,569	7,200	26,730	92	89
Jan-22	13,266	8,689	31,307	94	90
Feb-22	12,241	8,124	35,424	89	90
Mar-22	10,042	9,117	36,349	82	89
Apr-22	9,983	11,393	34,939	80	87
May-22	7,673	10,266	32,346	88	87
Jun-22	6,032	7,935	30,443	90	88
Jul-22	9,487	10,706	29,224	92	88
Aug-22	8,032	8,019	29,237	87	88
*Sep-22	8,086	10,681	26,642	92	88

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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Email: [robertg@financialmedia.marketing]
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M. Dutton and Associates is a full-service financial firm. We have been in business for over 30 years serving our community. Through comprehensive objective driven planning, we provide you with the research, analysis, and available options needed to guide you in implementing a sound plan for your retirement. We are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Visit us at MarvinDutton.com . Tel. 012-345-6789: email: [robertg@financialmedia.marketing]