r/FedRetirees

I hope someone will be able to answer this or point me in the right direction.

I paid one month each for Vision and Dental Insurance while still getting interim payments. I was concerned they might inadvertently get cancelled.

I had thought that when my annuity started, these would not be deducted from my first payment—but they were. I have given it some time to “catch up” thinking they’d not yet seen that payment, so them I’d get either a refund or they’d temporarily not take them out of the annuity for one month, but it hasn’t happened either.

What should I do? Would it be best to contact OPM (payment office), or the fede insurance website, or the insurance companies themselves? or wait a bit longer first? It’s not a lot of money so I am not in a hurry, but I would like to get this done.

thanks!

My wife and I receive FEHB through Kaiser and we have been notified on multiple occasions that, quoting directly: **“**the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan prescription drug coverage is, on average, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay for all plan participants and is considered Creditable Coverage. This means you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D and pay extra for prescription drug coverage.” Despite this we were enrolled automatically. Because we are subject to an IRMAA premium adjustment based on our income from two years ago when we were both still working we are each being assessed $60.40/month for Part D premiums, totaling about $1,450 for this year! Apparently a letter was sent at the end of last year to tell us we would be enrolled by default if we did not opt out by the end of the year. I was having some bad medical problems at that time and didn't notice the letter, which looked like yet another customer satisfaction survey envelope. I have submitted a request to be disenrolled but they still want the $120/month premiums for the months before they received the request. This seems like a complete ripoff. Kaiser is just trying to get Medicare to pay for the prescription drug coverage. Any interest in fighting this?

To add to the body of posts regarding timelines for OPM to finalize retirements. Here is one with court orders.

DoD DRP 2.0 with a VERA. 9/30/2025 separation date. All of my time was with DoD. No military buyback, but I did have a break in service which I had to buy my time back from. That was completed years before DRP was even imagined.

AL payout: Came with my last paycheck in October, 2025.

OPM notified or retirement received: 10/24/2025

OPM received retirement application package: 10/27/2025

Interim Pay issued: 11/21/2025

Assigned to Specialist: 11/25/2025

Case Finalized: 5/15/2026

Overall, the timeline was in-line with what my agency retirement specialist told me it would be. Actually, a little faster. But, I think I just ended up with an experienced agency retirement specialist.

Good luck to everyone!

Edit to correct. I fat-fingered 2025 instead of 2026 for the case finalized date.

Retired from VA Using FEHB insurance. Turning 65 soon. I'm expected to buy Medicare B. My wife will be turning 65 in a couple of years. What is the benefit of paying FEHB and Medicare B? I know that the secondary pays left over bills from the primary insurance, but how likely is it that we will come out ahead after paying for Medicare B? Has anyone used just FEHB and regretted not having Medicare B?

I have a retiree who is 70 and had 12 years of fers and wasn't totally aware they could have started a pension. I have the paper application and pamphlet telling them where to send what documents to.

Is ORA an option for this person? Could their last duty station start it? Or would it be best to just fill out the paper and mail that in?

Any idea if they backpay to 62? 12 years 25 years ago won't get them much but it's better than nothing.

Chose to retire with MRA + 10 (19 years total with military buy back), going back into industry for about 7 or 8 years until I retire for good. Mixed feelings as I had a very rewarding job with a pretty wide impact in the area where I work, but work stress has aged me 10 years in the past 3.

Traveling the next two weeks for personal things then nose to the grindstone again.

Anyway, just wanted to drop this as I’ve lurked here for a while.

9/30 DRP 2. My application has been at OPM since February. Online Services says it's in Adjudication stage but doesn't show as assigned to a specialist. I know that OPM has to contact SSA to get the offset amount. Any idea how long that takes?

I went to open a HYSA and they wanted me to provide my occupation, or retired. I'm somewhat reluctant to do so, wondering where else that information will end up. Has anyone provided that they were retired on an account and regrets it?

My FERS annuity was finalized today. I retired on 31 October from a special category (DoD/DoW FF) position. It took longer than I anticipated to get to the end. I engaged my Senator to assist with the process (not sure that it had any effect). I'm glad this is all behind me now, and while I support our peers in OPM, I am frustrated that packets weren't processed in the order they were received, even as the agency posts that it is efficiently processing ORA and 'paper packets' quickly. DRP peeps, hang in there - you've had it rough. Below is my timeline for reference.

It's been fun, and I'm ready for the next chapter!

https://preview.redd.it/go7q6xkuwb1h1.png?width=636&format=png&auto=webp&s=8752436b018046b777e1dae152483f43ea7b1bc8

31 Oct 2025 Retired

17 Nov 2025 Army Pay - Backpay from 1-31 Oct Furlough

26 Nov 2025 Army Pay - Charged 120 hrs. AL for 3-14 Nov due to DFAS input.

10 Dec 2025 OPM Retirement Services Online – Notification of Retirement Received (no email notification)

11 Dec 2025 Army Pay - Annual Leave Lump Sum (612 hours with 120 hours of retroactive AL deducted)

12 Dec 2025 OPM Retirement Services Online – Retirement Application Received (no email notification)

12 Dec 2025 OPM Interim Pay – Nov 2025 Pay in Arrears

02 Jan 2026 OPM Interim Pay – Dec 2025 Pay in Arrears

24 Jan 2026 Army Pay – Retroactive Adjustment (Correcting error in AL use after retirement)

02 Feb 2026 OPM Interim Pay – Jan 2025 Pay in Arrears

10 Feb 2026 Email from CHRA Army Benefits Center - Link to SF 3107, Certified Summary of Federal Service; Retirement SF 50; SF 2821, Agency Certification of Insurance Status; SF 2819, Notice of Conversion Privilege - Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program; FERS Estimate Report; Average Salary Report; Service Computation Date Report;

02 Mar 2026 OPM Interim Pay – Feb 2025 Pay in Arrears

01 Apr 2026 OPM Interim Pay – Mar 2025 Pay in Arrears

 24 Apr 2026 Email - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Office - Privacy Release Form & Support Documents (175 Days)

30 Apr 2026 OPM Retirement Services Online – Assigned to Specialist (with email notification)

01 May 2026 OPM Interim Pay – Apr 2025 Pay in Arrears

14 May 2025 OPM Retirement Services Online – Assigned to Specialist (with email notification)

Pending Date Retroactive Adjustment Payment

Ticked off to be quite polite. Retirement package submitted in September 2025. Retired as a GS13 on 12/27/2025. I’ve been in Payroll Review per ORA since late February. Crickets since. My husband is exactly 3 months behind (after) me in application submission and retirement date and retired as a GS15. His package was sent to Payroll Review two weeks ago. He received notification today that his retirement package already moved out of Payroll Review and on to OPM! We were both with IRS. My retirement specialist was a contractor that I assume is now gone because she is not respond to my emails. WHO CAN I

CONTACT? Any help would be appreciated. My husband asked his (IRS) specialist for an update on my package and she said something to the effect of that my package with likely sit in Payroll Review for 90 days then automatically be sent over to OPM. What the heck does that mean? Are higher GS grades’ packages prioritized for processing? I ask bc I know another GS15 who retired AFTER me with same agency and his is also already with OPM and he’s been receiving interim payments for two months now. This incompetence is maddening.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been stuck in **Interim Pay** since earlier this year, and I just had a 10/10 frustrating but informative call with OPM that I wanted to share for anyone else currently in retirement limbo.

The Background: My agency (DOJ) used GRB for my retirement processing. GRB confirmed they sent my final package months ago, and I even have the tracking info showing it was signed for at the Boyers, PA facility on **January 20, 2026**. Despite this, every time I check my status, I’m told I’m still "interim" because they’re waiting on my agency.

The Disconnect: I called OPM this morning and finally got some clarity. Even though they received my Last Date of Pay (LDOP) back on Jan 13th, their system still showed the final package as "missing."
When I gave the agent the specific date and location (Jan 20th in Boyers), she admitted that the "missing package" code is often just a default when the mailroom hasn't finished scanning or indexing the physical files into the processor's queue.

The Escalation (What you can ask for): Because I had the delivery date and the agent could see the LDOP was already in, she was able to formally escalate my case.

The Process: They have requested a manager to "physically pull the file" and manually update the system.

The Timeline: I was told to expect a10-business-day turnaround for the manager to review it and try to push it through to final adjudication.

A Few Quick Tips from the call:

1. ⁠Dental/Vision: If you're in interim status, OPM isn't deducting dental or vision yet. You *must* pay those bills directly to keep your coverage active until your annuity is finalized (then it becomes automatic).
2. ⁠Ask for the Email: I requested my follow-up via email because of how many "unknown number" spam calls I get. They were happy to note that on the escalation.
3. ⁠Specifics Matter: Don't just tell them "my agency sent it." Tell them the date and location (e.g., Boyers, PA) where it was signed for. It forced them to move past the "wait and see" script.

Has anyone else successfully used this "Manager Escalation" to get out of interim pay?

Did it actually take 10 days, or did it vanish back into the backlog?

With the current OPM backlog sitting at over 50,000 cases, I’m curious if anyone has seen movement lately.

Took DRP 1 retired 12/31/25. Got AL payout in Feb and started receiving est monthly benefit then as well. Just got my booklet and will get about $1K in adjustment and est was a couple hundred dollars under final amount.

Relatively uncomplicated but did have some prior service and a different agency but had bought back time years ago when HR did an audit. Did not use ORA so HR handled everything. Honestly not bad.

Oh and this is with DOT. Good luck to everyone still waiting.

I retired from the DoD on 10/31/2025 as an ATC Specialist with military time also bought back. I have a divorce from very early in my military service, well before I separated and started working civil service; no kids, no settlements, just mutual separation/divorce. And here I am, 7 months later and still waiting for my retirement to be finalized.

My online service account shows my case assigned to an OPM specialist. However, when I talked to someone on the phone and also emailed for clarification, I was told I was still waiting to be assigned to ANOTHER specialist. How many more people need to work on my case until it's finished? And how much longer is that really going to take?

OPM finalized my retirement a month ago and DOI payroll processing has “lost” record of my leave. I had previously inquired about 2 different times and was told it would be paid out in the next pay period. Today I called and they are going to open a ticket. Really? WTF! OPM was smooth sailing for me (3 weeks and they provided interim payment within 2 days). My agency is what screwed my retirement process up by taking months to process and then trying to screw me out of my unused leave.

I am DRP 2.0 and have been receiving Interim Payments since January. I received notification March 20th that I am assigned to an OPM Specialist. Have not heard anything since. But A question that me and a few other friends who will receive the Annuity Supplement from 57-62. We will get that from the start date of our Retirement once pension is finalized. I have a friend who just got finalized and got 1st pension check with the annuity supplement 57-62, they caught up their Health Insurance Payments but there was no backpay to October 1st for the Annuity Supplement from 57-62. Do we get back pay for that supplement retroactive to October 1st?

I have a question for you smart retirees – I have learned so much from you as I prepare to retire.

I am retiring with 20 years (MRA +10). I know I am leaving money on the table, but I am doing this for my sanity over the administration and to spend more time with my grandkids.

My question is over the very confusing W-4P Withholding Certificate for Periodic Pension or Annuity Payments form. That is my last form to complete. I have read the instructions and consulted with my friends that recently retired. No one really knows what to do with it. I wish it were like a normal W4 where I just choose my withholdings.

When I do the worksheet based on last years taxes and my spouses salary, it says my 4(b) deduction will be over $32k. If that is how much they hold back in taxes, it will be $11k more than my reduced annuity! And, I would not have enough to cover the health insurance premium deduction.

The instructions state if I don’t enter anything, the standard deduction will be used.

I am afraid to enter No Withholding, but that is what I want to do and deal with the taxes at the end of the year.

I realize that deductions are not withholdings.

It is the form that does not make sense. Will FERS just calculate the withholdings based on the standard deduction?

I think my real question is if I put $32k in 4(b) will I get any pension payment? I need it to cover the health insurance premium deduction. And, I would like to get something during the year and not wait for a tax refund.

Thank you for any guidance! 

 

Looking for pros and cons from those who have an FEHB healthcare plan but also have TRICARE for Life which means I have Medicare part A and part B.

What are some of the recommendations, concerns, and pitfalls I should be aware of?

Thanks for your input!

My retirement has now finalized. Prior to that…BCBS was primary and Medicare is secondary. Now that it is finalized…Medicare is supposed to be primary…and BCBS becomes secondary. When does that happen? It seems like BCBS is still primary. Does Medicare and BCBS work this out amongst themselves? Or is there something I need to do? Maybe…like all things…it just takes time.