FERS refund just hit my account!!!!!!!
Wanted to document my process for any folks digging through the sub for similar experiences. For the record, I was a DRP 2.0 employee with three years of service across two agencies.
Jan 9, 2026 - Mailed FERS refund paperwork to OPM. Waited a bit over 90 days from my Sept. 30, 2025 separation. I chose to have my interest go to my Roth IRA and the contributions to a HYSA (just easier that way for me. Rolling anything into TSP seemed like an additional paperwork nightmare).
Feb 6, 2026 - First called OPM to confirm if it was in their system. Phone lines were super busy at this time so I had to do that thing were you call 30-60 times consecutively to get a different automated greeting with menu options. Since FERS refund folks don't get a claim number, I chose the retirement annuity menu option and then asked to speak to an agent. I was probably on hold for 1.5 hours. After speaking to an agent, they confirmed my paperwork was logged and it would be around 15 weeks till I get a refund.
May 11, 2026 - Called after 15 weeks. Got an agent right away. Was told they needed my agency to confirm my separation and that they had contacted them already and were given 30 days to respond.
June 12, 2026 - Called a month later. Lines were busy again. Had to call a bunch to get the menu option and was then on hold for an hour. They confirmed that my agency responded and my refund was in its final stages of processing.
June 15, 2026 - Received a letter from OPM in the mail confirming my funds would be issued in 10 days and the totals that would be going to my HYSA and Roth.
June 22, 2026 - Saw the money in my HYSA!!!! The money hit my Roth about a week later.
I would say that the money I got back from my contribution portion is about $300 under what I calculated from my pay stubs across both agencies, but at this point, idgaf, just happy to have my contributions back and more or less not be worried about it.
Good luck to all those in the process. It works, just so much patience necessary. Shout out to the OPM folks. They were always nice on the calls and I'm sure their job is rough af right now.