Digital system aims to cut retirement processing times and reduce OPM’s growing backlog.
Washington, D.C., August 11, 2025 — The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has finished rolling out its Online Retirement Application (ORA). All agencies that use the National Finance Center (NFC) or Interior Business Center (IBC) payroll platforms must file new retirements in ORA, and OPM announced it will reject any paper packets it receives after July 15, 2025. Agencies that run independent payroll systems are being brought on in stages and will receive separate onboarding support.
Important note: Disability retirement applications are still submitted by mail and not processed through the online retirement system.
Retirements are cresting just as the new system comes online. OPM logged more than 13,400 retirement claims in June, pushing the inventory of unprocessed cases to roughly 26,000, its highest level since late 2023. OPM officials call the digital switch essential to prevent the backlog from ballooning further.
Early data from last winter’s pilot suggest the change could be substantial. One test claim moved from submission to adjudication in two days, according to OPM Acting Director Chuck Ezell. This would be a significant reduction from the timeline indicated in an April 2025 OPM guide:
Federal employees planning retirement should:
- Set up a personal Login.gov account now; do not rely on your agency email after separation.
- Pull and review your “Certified Summary of Federal Service.” Fix any errors with HR before you start ORA.
- Upload required supporting documents (marriage certificate, DD-214 if applicable, W-4P, SF-2818, court orders). ORA will not advance without them.
- Save a copy of the finished application to your computer.
- Check with HR if you are outside NFC/IBC to find out what method you should use to file.
Federal employment attorney Justin Schnitzer said:
“At The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer, we will monitor ORA’s impact on adjudication timelines and offer guidance as agencies onboard.”