NARFE Urges Appropriations Subcommittees to Seek Answers From OPM Retirement Services

On April 21, NARFE National President Ken Thomas sent letters to the House and Senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittees requesting the addition of report language in their fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills to improve oversight of the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Retirement Services (RS) division. These subcommittees have jurisdiction over funding for OPM and can require certain information from the agency. The letter highlighted concerns about significant retirement processing delays and the inability of annuitants and their families to connect with OPM RS to resolve issues. NARFE members have reported delays of six months or more in receiving survivor annuities, in addition to other processing delays.

NARFE requested specific language that would indicate that the committee is concerned with the level of service provided by RS and direct OPM to provide quarterly briefings to the committee on efforts to improve services. The language would also require OPM to post online monthly reports indicating the length of time it takes to process initial retirement claims, applications for survivor benefits and annuitant health benefit adjustments, as well as the number and percentage of unanswered calls. Thomas concluded the letters by stating, “NARFE understands that staffing shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic may be hampering OPM’s ability to process requested changes

AUGUST ACTION ALERT: URGE YOUR LAWMAKERS TO COSPONSOR WEP AND GPO REPEAL BILL

The Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82/S. 1302 is a bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These long-standing, misguided provisions reduce the hard-earned Social Security benefits of nearly 2 million people nationwide, and it’s time for Congress to pass this legislation and bring immediate financial relief to those affected. At press time, we had secured 281 cosponsors—just nine short of the number needed to ensure floor consideration on the issue. Join NARFE’s continued effort to urge lawmakers who have yet to support the bill to do so immediately. Use NARFE’s Legislative Action Center, located at www.narfe.org, to personalize and send your message directly.