OPM Makes Progress: Federal Retirement Backlog Shrinks for the First Time in Months

After months of steady increases, the federal retirement backlog finally moved in the right direction in March.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received 14,759 new retirement claims (8,830 digital and 5,929 paper)—a sharp decline from February’s 31,240. More importantly, OPM processed more applications than it received, reducing the total backlog from 65,237 to 55,681 pending claims.

It’s a meaningful step forward, though the overall backlog remains elevated. Over the past 12 months, OPM has received 182,449 retirement applications, reflecting the ongoing wave of federal retirements that began in 2025 and has carried into 2026.

Processing Times Are Improving

March also brought encouraging movement in processing times. The average dropped to 60 days, down from 71 days in February.

• Digital applications: 39 days on average
• Paper applications: 79 days on average

OPM processed 22,237 claims during the month—more than 7,000 above incoming volume—helping drive the reduction in the backlog.

The gap between digital and paper processing remains significant, reinforcing the advantage of submitting electronically. Of the 55,681 applications still pending, 24,688 are digital and 30,993 are paper.

What This Means If You’re Waiting

A shrinking backlog is good news, but tens of thousands of federal retirees are still in the queue waiting for finalized benefits.

Delays are often caused by avoidable issues—missing information, incomplete documentation, or discrepancies in service records. Even small errors, such as incorrect marital status or gaps in employment history, can extend processing times by weeks or longer.

If you haven’t retired yet, getting your application right the first time can make a significant difference. And if you’re already waiting, understanding where delays typically occur can help set realistic expectations.

For either situation, working with a Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) can help you navigate the process more efficiently and avoid common pitfalls.