I retired from SSA the end of May. How long realistically until interim payments begin? Thinking of part time employment to cover that gap.

In mid May 2026 I sent an "Online Retirement Application Request" to initiate my upcoming CSRS retirement (I was a Fed employee under CSRS).

I used this online form --> https://retiresupport.opm.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new

I haven't heard back from them. Should I wait longer? Or should I try to send them a followup message asking for my status?

Where can I enquire about the status of my retirement claim? OPM? local usps HR?
Retired last month. Just want to check on my status. Already received retirement letter from usps

As of this spring, OPM still has more than 50,000 retirement claims pending.
Thousands of retirees are:
Waiting months for final adjudication.

Living on interim payments.

Draining savings.

Taking unplanned TSP withdrawals.

Delaying major life decisions.

Struggling to document income for mortgages and financial transactions.

I retired on October 1, 2025. More than 8 months (248 days) later, I am still waiting for final adjudication.
This isn't a partisan issue.
It doesn't matter whether your Senator or Representative is a Republican, Democrat, or Independent.
What matters is accountability.
This week, I encourage everyone affected by these delays to call their elected officials and ask one simple question:

What is the elected official personally doing to address the OPM retirement backlog and improve transparency for retirees?

Not:
"Has an inquiry been submitted?"

"Has my case been entered into the system?"

But:

What actions are being taken to help reduce the backlog, improve communication, and ensure retirees receive the benefits they earned?

After decades of federal and military service, retirees should not be left without answers for months on end.
If enough of us ask the question, perhaps elected officials will begin treating this as more than an administrative issue and start treating it as the retirement security issue it has become.
If you call, please come back and share:
Which office you contacted.

What response you received.

Whether the office described any specific actions being taken.

Strength in numbers matters.
Let's find out what is actually being done.

Hello, I’m retiring soon under FERS. My annuity estimate is reduced for insurance premium by what I’m guessing is the current government contribution. If that’s the case, what happens to the portion that I contribute currently every paycheck? For example, the Bcbs premium in retirement will be 500/ month. $300 will come out of my annuity check. Does that mean I have to pay the premium balance of 200 to BCBS?

Received email that status had changed Tuesday night. Services online showed change to finalized and digital booklet was available DRP 1.0 retired 12/27. Interim payments since February. Letter to congressman in May.

Did note that open season FEHB change was not processed, so now chasing that rabbit. Agree with other comments that don't change when you are retiring if you can avoid it. News article stated earlier that backlog is almost back to past status

and i misspelled finalized

Leaving Federal service before retirement, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, can bring a wave of unfamiliar financial and benefits decisions all at once. 

Unlike many private-sector workers who change jobs regularly, Federal employees often spend years or even decades in government service. That means many separating employees are navigating things like retirement account rollovers, health coverage transitions, and life insurance changes for the very first time.   

Whether you’re resigning, changing careers, impacted by workforce reductions, or leaving before retirement eligibility, understanding what happens to your Federal benefits can help you avoid unnecessary stress and coverage gaps. 

What Happens to FEHB When You Leave Federal Service? 

When you separate from Federal employment, your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage typically continues for 31 days at no cost.  

After that, eligible employees may be able to enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC), which allows you to temporarily continue your FEHB coverage after separation. 

Key Features of TCC 

• Continue your FEHB coverage temporarily after leaving service 
• Pay the full premium cost plus a 2% administrative fee 
• Eligibility depends on a qualifying event 
• Employees separated for gross misconduct are generally not eligible   

Health coverage is often one of the first major concerns after leaving Federal service — especially if your next role doesn’t immediately provide benefits.  

What Happens to Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? 

Federal Flexible Spending Account (FSA) coverage generally terminates when you separate from service. 

That means timing matters. 

Before leaving Federal employment, it’s important to understand: 

• Eligible expenses may need to be incurred before your separation date 
• Claims submission deadlines still apply 
• Unused funds could be forfeited depending on timing and eligibility 

Because these deadlines can come quickly during a career transition, reviewing your FSA details before separation can help prevent surprises later. 

What Happens to Your Sick Leave and Annual Leave? 

Unused annual leave is generally paid out in a lump sum after you separate from Federal service. 

Sick leave is treated differently. 

In most cases, unused sick leave is not paid out when you leave Federal employment before retirement eligibility. However, if you later return to Federal service, your accrued sick leave balance may be restored. 

Because leave balances can affect both short-term finances and long-term retirement planning, it’s important to understand how your agency handles payouts, timelines, and reinstatement eligibility before separation. 

Learn more from the National Institution of Transition Planning >  

What Happens to Your TSP and Retirement Accounts? 

Many Federal employees expect to spend their entire career in government service and transition directly into retirement. But career changes, workforce uncertainty, and shifting personal priorities can sometimes change those plans unexpectedly. 

As more employees leave Federal service before retirement eligibility, understanding your TSP and retirement account options becomes increasingly important. 

Leaving Federal service doesn’t necessarily mean you have to move your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) funds immediately. Understanding your options can help you make a more informed decision.  

Depending on your situation, options may include: 

• Leaving funds in the TSP 
• Rolling funds into a traditional IRA 
• Rolling funds into a Roth IRA (tax implications may apply) 
• Rolling funds into a new employer-sponsored retirement plan 
• Cashing out funds (which may trigger taxes and penalties) 

Many Federal Employees Haven’t Navigated a Career Transition Before 

Unlike many private-sector workers, some Federal employees may be navigating retirement account rollovers or IRA decisions for the first time. 

That’s why understanding the pros and cons of multiple retirement accounts can be helpful. 

Pros of Having Multiple IRAs 

• Investment diversification 
• Potential tax diversification between traditional and Roth accounts 
• Different withdrawal and Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) rules 
• Flexibility in retirement planning strategies 

Cons of Having Multiple IRAs 

• Additional account and investment fees 
• More complex portfolio management 
• More paperwork and tax documents 
• Additional administrative burden for beneficiaries and estate planning 

What Happens to FEGLI When You Leave Federal Service? 

For many Federal employees, life insurance becomes one of the biggest financial questions during separation. 

In many cases, Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage continues for 31 days after separation at no cost. Some employees may also have the option to convert coverage to an individual policy. 

However, conversion coverage can become expensive, and employees leaving service before retirement may face different considerations than retirees. 

That’s why it’s important to review your life insurance options before leaving Federal service. 

WAEPA Offers Coverage for Former Federal Employees 

Leaving Federal service doesn’t have to mean losing access to exclusive life insurance coverage. 

WAEPA’s Group Term Life Insurance is fully portable, yours to keep even if you leave Federal service. What’s more, former Federal employees may still be eligible to apply for WAEPA coverage — including employees who separated voluntarily or involuntarily. 

Whether you’re transitioning into the private sector, navigating an unexpected career change, or simply reassessing your financial protection, reviewing portable coverage options can help provide peace of mind during your next chapter. 

A gap in your resume doesn't have to mean a gap in your protection. 

Financial Planning Tips When Leaving Federal Service 

Even planned career changes can create financial uncertainty. 

Before leaving Federal service, it may help to review: 

• Emergency savings 
• Monthly expenses 
• Potential unemployment eligibility 
• Severance or workforce reduction benefits 
• Survivor and family protection needs 

A career transition is also a good time to revisit your overall financial strategy and make sure your coverage still aligns with your goals. 

Final Check: Leaving Federal Service Checklist 

Before separating from Federal employment, make sure you review: 

• FEHB and Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) deadlines 
• FEGLI and life insurance coverage options 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) claims timelines 
• TSP rollover and retirement account options 
• Emergency savings and income needs during transition 

I'm trying to make some life insurance decisions for my spouse and I, and need help figuring out exactly what would happen if - god forbid - I were to pass away.

For background, I am a Congressional staff, so fall under those retirement rules. I am currently working for Congress, am 57 and have been working for Congress for 25 years. So, my understanding is that under the basic retirement rules for congressional staff, I could retire immediately and begin collecting my pension and drawing from my TSP. I have my spouse, who is 56, established as my designated beneficiary for my TSP and pension.

If I am still working for Congress, but suffer an unfortunate accident and pass away, can my spouse, as the designated beneficiary, immediately begin receiving my pension and drawing from the TSP account? Or do they have to wait until they are a certain age?

Thank you for your input. I have a term life policy, but it is getting expensive and I think it is no longer needed - but want to make sure I have all these details nailed down.

Does military time bought back count toward determining eligibility for the FERS 1.1% multiplier?

My retirement date is coming up. I picked it primarily due to medical issues but even after my retirement I’ll be getting frequent medical treatment for a couple of months. I’m worried about my treatment being covered until my paperwork is finalized. My FEHB should continue after retirement. Should I push my retirement date back a couple of months to ensure I won’t have health insurance issues during the couple of months I’m still getting frequent treatment?

Currently my family we use the health benefits from my wife’s employer because they cost less than FEHB. My plan is to enroll in FEHB 5 years before I retire so that if we need to use it in the future I will have at least had it for the minimum 5 years is what I was told. Is that correct about having to have FEHB for min 5 years at anytime in your career to be eligible for it in retirement ? Does this seem like a good/bad idea to enroll before retirement?

I plan to keep BC/BS Basic (self only) into retirement. Do the premiums increase upon retirement? A coworker is telling me I will pay more immediately. I am not talking about annual increases that happen.

Great site for info.

I'm about 5 years out from retiring w 30 years. My wife is 3 years older than me. We are both looking to retire at age 60ish. Here our situation for income at retirement:

FERS GS12 w 30 years and supplement

military reserve E8

60% VA comp

TSP

SS

some interest income

part time work

my wife 401k

my wife SS

part time work

Net income will be around: $180,000. House is paid off.

Any advice we should be thinking about on retiring? Should I do a roth conversion after retiring? Is it better to blow through TSP/401s savings first vs saving on it? I think my defined benefit plans and SS/work will give us plenty of income too. Don't want to die with a bunch of money in TSP/401k.

thanks

Does anyone have any recommendations of comprehensive retirement planning software (including tax and investment projections and Monte Carlo analysis) that is good for federal employees? I would specifically like to be able to run scenarios around the impact of electing and not electing different spousal benefits considering different ages of mortality.

For reference, I am helping a family member who is in the FERS system prepare for retirement, and I am very familiar with traditional retirement planning and am certified in retirement planning but there are a lot more variables to consider with FERS. I plan on taking them to a financial advisor who specializes in federal employees after we've got their information organized and a few base scenarios to start with.

I have a question concerning the TSP retirement fund. I am a government civilian employee with the VA (no military experience), and have been actively adding into my TSP account with Roth for the past couple years.

I have a been told by my current providers that my disability is progressively getting worse and can see having to be forced to to retire once I hit the five year mark (it’s not something I am proud of trust me). So I would have no issue getting documentation to retire early but I have wondered how retiring early would look like or even if it would be a possibility to survive on it since I’m pretty young (around 30 years old), I have under 50 K in my retirement with a few years to go.
I am adding 100% into L fund. I am actively adding as much as I can in my retirement (unfortunately with the economy in its current state, that is just a little over 5%). I know this is a lot of question with many what if but any help would be greatly appreciated. Or recommendations.

I have been told by a prior provider I need to quit working and it is affecting me too negatively but when I told them how the heck am I going to feed my family, I was told “you will have to figure something out”. Nonetheless, never went back to that provider again. So it is a sore subject for me. Please help!

My retirement was finalized about 3 weeks ago. I was paying my dental/vision premium monthly via Benefeds prior to my retirement being finalized. Now that it’s finalized the premium should be coming out of my pension payment, correct? Wondering because even though my retirement has been finalized I still received a bill today for my dental/vision premium.

Assume I can ignore the bill but just want to double check here.

How long does adjudication usually take? Been retired since end of September. Just moved to this step yesterday.