What changed: OPM's retirement backlog fell to 8,814, the lowest in at least 14 years
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By the FERS Made Easy editorial team · Last reviewed Oct 2026
At the end of September 2026, OPM had 8,814 retirement claims waiting, down from 15,427 in August and a record 65,237 in February. The average processing time fell to 66 days: 56 days for digital applications and 149 days for paper.
| Month (2026) | New claims | Processed | Backlog | Avg days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | 31,240 | 18,149 | 65,237 | 71 |
| Jul | 10,538 | 17,841 | 24,784 | 109 |
| Aug | 7,618 | 15,281 | 15,427 | 79 |
| Sep | 8,080 | 13,227 | 8,814 | 66 |
What it means for you
- Apply digitally if your agency offers OPM's Online Retirement Application: digital claims were 83% of September intake and were processed far faster.
- The February spike came partly from deferred-resignation retirements plus the usual year-end wave, so expect claims to climb again in January.
See How to apply.