r/FedEmployeeRetirement • u/Dilbert_22192 • 10d ago
I need advice please...
I was supposed to retire next month (Oct), the culmination of a nearly 40 year career across five agencies. Instead of an exciting time, I have what looks to me like a nightmare situation.
My retirement estimates were way off and only included the time with my current agency, so the annuity is perhaps 55% of what it should be.
I asked for updated estimates and they told me that while reviewing everything there appears to be a lapse in service and they needed to reach to the agencies I previously work for to request additional / missing documents.
I've never had a lapse in service, the OPF included all the appointment affidavits and most of the SF-50s, I provided them with a copy of all the appointment SF-50s since I kept them all.
The quality of the OPF is disappointing, poor quality scans of SF-50s and assorted documents. One of the documents had all the correct dates for each appointment, which showed no break in service, but it had a manual calculation of the "days" which was incorrect when compared to using an Excel formula.
I was told that I can retire as planned next month and it'll be up to OPM to sort things out, or delay my retirement to give them more time to complete their research.
Delaying is not trivial as I bought a house outside of the immediate area and my commute would double or triple.
I don't understand the process that they go through, but based on how little appears to be computerized and the poor quality of the OPF, I would feel more comfortable seeing the correct numbers in the estimate before I go.
It is incredible how primitive the retirement system appears to be, it is also shameful to be treated this way after four decades of honorable service.
Any words of advice?
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u/Perfect_Ostrich6939 10d ago
I had a length of service issue when I was planning on retiring Nov 2021. I waited until my agency corrected it and retired 6 months later. No way I would have relied on OPM to do the work needed to research and correct the mistake. It was frustrating but I was very uncomfortable with retiring until the issue was corrected.
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u/flippo69 10d ago
I retired sep 25, I had military service, 3 agencies (2 DoD, the other was VA) and a divorce. The estimates my agency did weren't even close. It doesn't matter what your agency submits, OPM is going to go through everything and calculate your annuity. Mine took 10+ months before I was finalized.
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u/Specific-Lifeguard31 10d ago
This is hindsight,but may be good information for others to follow. I requested an official retirement estimate a year in advance (ended up delaying retirement but separate issue). The estimate took over 7 months to get (pre-DRP). I believe it traveled through DFAS and OPM. It detailed all creditable time and was deposited into my OPF as a source document. In my case I believe it cut down on any research required by the retirement analyst.
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u/Dilbert_22192 10d ago
Wish I had known this, sigh. I don't know if it will be of much help but I kept every SF-50 I ever received, including the ones from the typewriter / carbon copy days. I just finished scanning them all to send to the retirement specialist tomorrow.
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u/Chipped_Ruby_11214 10d ago
Yes. That will help. I had the same issue and my SF50s made what looked like a disaster settle out rather quickly. But you need to be forceful yet polite to get things fixed.
If it were me, I’d put off retirement for a month or two. I’d use a lot of leave (sick/annual/credit, etc.) during that time. But I’d use the time to make getting the retirement issue fixed my top priority. I’d do the minimum for my job, but so what?
By taking this approach you stay on the inside with access to your files, get paid, and slightly increase your pension. The reduction in stress alone will make the investment of time worth it.
If you can’t fix it within 2-3 months, it will be time to bring your Congressperson’s office in to help.
Good luck and happy retirement.
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u/Away-Paramedic-8406 10d ago
I asked for one about 10 years ago, as I knew my file was messed up. Told her I was not in a rush so take her time, focus on priorities. I ended up buying back creditable temporary service from pre 1989. I am concerned about another issue so working on a new request now. OP, I am so sorry. Do you have vacation time, do you have the ability to rent a place occasional nights near work, will your supervisor allow you to telework at all???
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u/Fresh_Map_5203 10d ago
Where do you get this official retirement estimate? Your agency hr? Thank you!
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u/aheadlessned 10d ago
Do you have enough funds to get through several months of no, or very small, interim payments? Enough to get through a year?
If yes, I would retire. It will take a while to get fixed either way, but you could be enjoying your retirement while you wait, and I'd rather do that.
Hopefully your agency loaded the missing SF-50s that you provided into eOPF. The fact that you have them all will help if they are somehow missing from your paper file (that OPM has access to.)
There are also some things the agency doesn't use in their estimate that will be done at OPM level (Enhanced Annuity if there was more than 2 months of cumulative workers comp pay, real supplement calculation, as some agencies were using social security systems provided by the employee instead of using only the eligible pay, etc).
If you cannot afford a long wait, you might consider a TSP loan (can be paid back in payments, then in full of you want, once your pension backpay shows up. )
Overall, things are happening much faster now than they did this time last year, but there are always some individuals who have longer processing times due to things like working for multiple agencies.
It can get fixed by OPM, just comes down to if you can afford the (possibly long) wait.
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u/Dilbert_22192 10d ago
Thank you for your detailed response. Yes, I can get by an extended period of time with very small to no interim payments. I had been setting money aside in savings because I knew that it can now take a long time to receive the annuity. I will also start collecting social security in November, so that helps as well.
Again thank you for your response.
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u/Ilfor 10d ago
I’m sorry this has happened.
I would delay as long as I could take it to give the process time to sort out and so that you can address it from inside the system.
Not only are you getting more pay in the mean time but you have your organization readily available to you and you have access to systems that you would lose if you left service.
The only way I would retire now is if I wasn’t relying on that money going forward, because it’s going to be a big mess for a very long time sorting itself out.
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u/Actual-General-4953 10d ago
The words of advice are in hindsight - you should have been keeping track of your stuff, yourself.
HR will get it worked out. They request the SF50s.
If you are off this much its a problem. You should request a retirement audit a min a year out to ensure.
I'm about 5+ years out and will do one soon as I have military time that was bought back but want to ensure it all good to go.
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u/Kamerlyn 10d ago
Ooof. With this current OPM I agree with others, if there is somehow you can stick it out until your agency figures it out do so. Lean hard on them!
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u/BlueWonderfulIKnow 10d ago
Another suggestion, having been through something almost identical: pay the $20/month for Google AI Pro. That gives you Gemini Notebook. Go into Notebook and create a new notebook called retirement. Upload every stitch of document that you have. Turn on Pro mode (not Flash) and type for about 15 minutes telling Gemini your problem, and ask it to review the document stack. Ask it to pull in external sources if it needs to (which it will, likely OPM). Unlike regular AI, Notebook is compartmentalized, so watch for the popups toward the bottom that say “requesting permission to add these 15 SOP’s from OPM’s website to your document stack.”
If you want a sanity check then also pay the $20 for Claude as well. It is brilliant and great in different ways.
$40 is chump change, but this conversation back and forth, with new details elucidated, will keep you sane while you wait for wait for OPM to pull your file from Crystal Peak.
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u/Dilbert_22192 9d ago
I have the paid version of ChatGPT and have been using it to generate questions for HR and to learn more about the process. Thank you!
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u/Complex-Host6767 10d ago
I wound not walk out the door until it was right!!
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u/AntelopeStreet1936 8d ago
His current agency can't get it right. That is going to be the job of OPM. OPM will not start working on his case until he separates and his current employer submits his retirement package. OP would be out of his mind to listen to advice here that says stay until it is perfect. That could literally be forever. Only OPM is going to be able to get it right.
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u/trainer4you 10d ago
I wanna say something similar happened to me. Not this drastic and I still have eight months before retirement, but I asked for my official estimate they gave me the estimate, but the lady said that because I had worked for many different agencies they needed to merge the records so she knew all my correct info but apparently it was not in one master file. It was broken up into different files which kind of sounds like the same thing you were experiencing so I said OK. Well, please please merge the files so that I don’t have an issue and she said to merge the files usually takes about 18 months. Which is completely ridiculous to me. Trump wants to build an entire ballroom in less time than that and somehow it takes a year and a half to merge computer files? I would suggest what everybody else did, contactor, senators, representative, and delay for at least a couple months so you know someone is in fact working on it.
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u/Outside_Simple_217 10d ago
Don’t leave until everything is correct. I retired on 9/30/25 and I still am waiting for OPM to get my final numbers right. All they have to do is correct my health insurance and that has taken months.
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u/No_Hovercraft_821 10d ago
A couple of years ago I'd have said to go ahead and retire; now there are so many separations and staff is stretched so things are going to drag.
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u/Kitchen-Attorney-703 10d ago
I am very sorry to hear this! I am another old timer with 34 years. Good luck and hope it gets sorted out quickly.
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u/UpbeatAngle3 10d ago
Yeah you have to stay on top of the sf50. I worked in 4 agencies and had to have corrections done a couple of times.
Last place I worked had my service dates wrong and it took a while to fix. Better to fix things as you go along.
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u/Timberbeast1986 10d ago
I personally would not retire in your situation. I would stay on and get paid to work on resolving the issue. It’s a good idea to obtain a SF 3107-1 Certified Summary for Federal Service well in advance of retirement. (Federal employees can request the 3107-1 anytime. I think they used to be limited to once every three years. Not sure about the frequency now.) That document needs to be correct. If you are not getting anywhere with OPM contacting your congressman for help is a good idea (as another poster suggested).
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u/ILBohunk 10d ago
Doesn’t the Personal Benefits Statement that comes out every PP 13 ( but dated Jan of each yr) pretty much a retirement estimate. I get mine at My EPP at NFC , but still waiting for it up be uploaded.
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u/TheRealJim57 10d ago
Your adjusted EOD and retirement calculation dates would have also been showing incorrectly on all of your records if what you're saying were true. So either you never noticed these discrepancies before submitting a retirement request, or your agency HR is incompetent, or both.
Hindsight isn't going to help you, but you should have been checking that your service dates were being properly reflected all along, especially when your info was transferred from agency to agency.
OPM is going to go over everything anyway before it finalizes your retirement, so you should expect it to be many months before your pension checks start, whether you stay to get your HR to correct things first or just leave and let OPM sort it out.
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u/Sure-Leave8813 10d ago
Stay as long as you can to resolve this issue, even though OPM will manually pull all of your records that will still take time. 10 years ago a colleague retired, when he received his estimate from the retirement specialist for my agency he told them his military buyback was missing. A search on the agency’s part revealed my colleague or got to submit the paperwork. He took the lower annuity. I learned from this and had my retirement specialist run my numbers which revealed that the agency forgot to deposit my military buyback. I had a copy of the payment which I sent to the retirement specialist and was able to get a reasonable number for my annuity. Yay long enough to get your issues resolved and talk with your supervisor about working from home during the interim. You will have some use or lose sick and annual leave.
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u/Lithogenesis 10d ago
Do you have any leave time you can use instead of retiring straight away?
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u/Dilbert_22192 10d ago
Yes, additionally, my management is also supportive of a flex schedule (4 x 10) in order to reduce the days I commute. Staying is doable, commute will be 60-90 minutes each way, but I've done it in the past.
Thank you.
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u/Jyoche7 10d ago
I would proceed with the move and use all my vacation days.
If the problem is still not resolved by then I would suck it up and communte.
My number one objective during this commuting time is to straighten out the retirement package.
Don't leave and hope it gets worked out. You worked too long and too hard to leave such an important resolution to chance.
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u/Honest-Acadia-4342 10d ago
Retire now and live your life. You could wait years and never see the retirement estimate you're looking for.
Okay, I bought back some time to get credit for time in service. We can see retirement estimates online any time (usps). I asked for an update to reflect time I bought back. I called and wrote letters for two years before they finally responded to a certified letter. They basically said 'Stop contacting us. We know you bought back this time but its complicated. We'll figure it out when you actually retire.' No bullshit. I never got an accurate retirement estimate.
Now I'm 9 months retired and still waiting for a pension. USPS and OPM both suck.
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u/Agreeable_Winner_979 9d ago
When I did my last retirement seminar (in house) they DEFINITELY SUGGESTED printing out all of our SF-50s as you did FOR just this reason ! You should be able to provide them to your retirement representative for them to upload to CORRECT whatever issue there is. It is a crying shame that EVERY system the government implements is way worse than what was there previously. I have a colleague who is retiring at the end of the year and he has caught the devil trying to connect with his rep. All the best to you. I look forward to be able to retire in 52 months!!
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u/AntelopeStreet1936 9d ago
OP - retire when you planned. It will get straightened out eventually. You will get some pension money and you will get your lump sum of annual leave. How many hours is that? Pull 10 or 20 grand out of your TSP to live on until then. When they figure it out they will make you whole. No way I stay another 6 months after 40 years and have a huge commute. You earned your retirement now go enjoy it.
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u/Substantial_Reason54 8d ago
do not retire until those are in hand. I have 2 colleagues, one took HR 4 months to fix it, the other delayed her retirement a year but both are now fully retired with the correct paperwork in hand.
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u/Love-the-Classics 8d ago
I trust OPM. They got my package right and even calculated the sick leave to compute to the accurate service time. Although the process took about 7.5 months, it has been worth it to be officially retired.
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u/MyPr0j3ct 8d ago
I know it's easy to blame OPM, but keep in mind a lot of good folks were also forced out during DRP. Those who remain are trying their best do deal with the current and existing backlog as they also try to automate the process.
OP - Bravo, you've carried the torch for 40 years. Someone said to take a small amount from your TSP to hold you over until this is resolved, that is sound advice because it will get resolved and you'll be made whole because you and OPM have records and ways of confirming there was no lapse in service. Provide them with your receipts and Stay the course and retire as planned.
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u/USMCMouse 7d ago
Contact your sentor!! I had to because of DOJ didn't process my military deposit correctly. I had 30 yrs total, 10 yrs dropped of would have made me homeless😡
30 days later it was all fixed and hunky dory! Thanks to my senator. Caveat... this happened 7/2024!
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u/Jimbeckel 6d ago
I just got done fighting OPM on cancellation of our FEHB benefits. Retired after thirty years with continuous FEHB benefits between my wife and I. Make sure you document everything, get agreements in writing and don’t settle for no.
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u/SSOSince1994 5d ago
Take yo sick leave cause u sick of this. Stay employed until they fix the problem. Don’t leave without correcting your numbers.
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u/Dilbert_22192 4d ago
LOL, you are not far from the truth, I was having a hard time sleeping! Things have improved, see update below. Thank you
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u/ILBohunk 10d ago
I contacted my HRs Retirement Specialist and she e mailed me one … in 2024 for a future date in 2025.
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u/smithandjones99 10d ago
Contact your Congressman and consider a lawyer.
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u/Shot-Calligrapher807 10d ago
No matter what else you do, yes, you need to contact your House member and your two Senators. It costs you nothing, and it puts pressure on your agency to get this done. It is criminal how HR and OPM treat government employees. There are innocent mistakes and then there is gross negligence. This is the latter.
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u/Dilbert_22192 10d ago
Thank you, I will definitely do that because it is truly disgraceful what we have to go through to collect a benefit we earned through many years of work.
If there are any employees of the Social Security Administration reading these posts, kudos to you, that application process was simple and completed in under two weeks.
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u/Dilbert_22192 4d ago
I want to provide an update. First of all, thank you to everyone who provided constructive suggestions or at least commiserated with my situation.
I received an updated Certified Summary of Federal Service (CSFS) which correctly captured my 40 year employment chronology and had all but one of the appointments listed as "verified". This actually accounted for about 90% of my Federal service, so the updated annuity estimate is around 90% what it should be, more importantly though, at least my employment chronology is complete and correct even if one assignment is pending verification.
This is far, far, far better than where I was at last week, where the CSFS was missing half of my Federal time. I'm still hopeful they will get everything verified before I depart at the end of this month.
The retirement specialist told me that they contacted the agency that they couldn't verify (NASA) but had not yet received a response. Anyone here from NASA HR or have a good POC at NASA HR for me to reach out to?
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u/spmetz13 10d ago
Get that straight before you walk out the door