The federal retirement processing backlog continued to improve in April, though the system remains under significant strain heading into the summer months.
According to the latest data from OPM’s Retirement Services, the total retirement inventory stood at 49,888 pending claims at the end of April, down from a peak of 65,237 in February but still well above pre-surge levels. OPM received 11,940 new retirement claims in April alone, adding to a backlog that has been building since the historic wave of federal separations that began in early 2025.
Digital vs. Paper: A 50-Day Difference
The most important takeaway from the April data is that digital retirement claims are processing in approximately 50 days. Paper claims are taking 100 days, exactly twice as long.
Digital applications go through systematic data checks that catch missing information and incomplete packages, but paper applications do not have that built-in safety net, which means errors and omissions often are not discovered until a human reviewer picks up the file.
OPM’s Retirement Services is actively working toward a fully digital retirement application process and is partnering with agencies and payroll offices to modernize legacy systems. But during this transition period, a significant number of new claims are still arriving on paper. Of the 11,940 claims received in April, 8,743 were digital, and 3,197 came in on paper.
What the Trend Line Shows
Looking at the full fiscal year picture, the average processing time for digital applications has remained relatively stable at 42 days year to date, while the overall average across all claim types sits at 71 days. The February surge, when OPM received more than 31,000 new claims in a single month, drove the inventory to its peak, and the system is still working through that volume four months later.
What This Means If You Are Planning to Retire
If you have not submitted your federal retirement application yet, file digitally. The data makes a compelling case; a 50-day process versus a 100-day process is not a minor difference when you are waiting for your first full annuity check and managing the gap between your last paycheck and your pension.
Beyond going digital, make sure your application is complete before you submit. Missing information is one of the primary drivers of processing delays, regardless of whether you file digitally or on paper.
A Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) can help you prepare a complete and accurate retirement application and make sure your transition from paycheck to pension goes as smoothly as possible. Schedule your complimentary benefits review today.
