The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has shifted from paper-based to electronic retirement processing with the governmentwide rollout of the Online Retirement Application (ORA) in 2024, following a pilot phase. Based at the Retirement Operations Center in Pennsylvania, which houses 400 million records in 22,000 file cabinets, OPM’s modernization efforts, outlined in its 2023–2026 IT Strategic Plan, include ORA, Electronic Retirement Records, and RS Surveys. ORA allows employees to submit retirement applications digitally, with pre-filled payroll data, the ability to save progress, and compatibility with personal devices via Login.gov. Supporting documents like marriage certificates and IRS Form W-4P are uploaded post-application. As of July 15, 2025, paper applications are no longer accepted, with most agencies required to use ORA by June 2, 2025. The shift aims to reduce backlogs, errors, and costs, though complex cases involving divorce decrees, special service categories, or missing documentation may still face delays of 90 days or more. Retirees are advised to verify beneficiary forms and maintain communication with HR specialists.
https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/07/opms-digital-retirement-application-live-what-means-feds-planning-retire/406734/
