Finally Finalized!! DOD DRP 2.0 VERA 09/30/2025
I’ve been reading experiences here for months, so posting to share my experience. OPM email notifying me that my application was Finalized arrived 05/07/2026, a day shy of one year after my last work day. Retired 09/30/2025 and the path to finalized was as long and nerve wracking as getting hired in the mid-90s!
29+ years with the same agency, FEHB with same insurance for majority of career (changed during open season 2025), no military service, no part time service, one divorce with no entitlement.
04/2025: DRP 2.0 signed/GRB submitted
05/2025: Admin Leave started
09/30/2025: VERA Retirement
10/2025: Annual leave lump sum payment
11/18/2025: OPM notification of retirement received
11/20/2025: OPM retirement application received
01/13/2026: OPM assigned to specialist
01/15/2026: OPM interim pay issued (approximately ⅓ of projected annuity)
05/07/2026: Retirement at OPM finalized
05/08/2026: Retroactive payment received
06/01/2026: Projected first annuity deposit
High 3 was slightly less than what GRB projected resulting in slightly lower monthly annuity. FEHB change from BCBS to MHBP during 2025 open season was not included in benefit calculation, nor is FEDVIP so need to contact OPM about those issues.
I called OPM monthly starting in 12/2025. Initially told to expect final within 4-6 weeks and was so excited. Subsequent calls was told 2-3 or 3-4 more weeks. Always a moving target. In 03/2026, I was told my application was being reviewed by the court order branch. In 04/2026, I was told it was being processed and then would go to audit. The OPM representative couldn’t tell me what those two terms meant and did say they were in Pennsylvania and my application was being worked in DC. All but one of the OPM representatives that I talked to were polite and I always thanked them considering they were just the messengers.
Contacted my congressman in 03/2026 and was told it could be up to 60 days before they received any information. Contacted them 05/05/2026 requesting status and they confirmed that they “created a case using the preferred method OPM suggests and I waited 2 weeks to allow them to view and assign the case to an agent.” They contacted them every 2 weeks thereafter with no movement, hence, their action had no bearing on my application. I do still recommend contacting your congressman on the off chance that it accelerates your application!
I still don’t understand why OPM doesn’t have a first in/first out (FIFO) policy as I was increasingly deflated seeing news of those with post 09/30/2025 retirement dates being finalized prior to us with 09/30/2025 date.
Wishing you all the best if you’re playing this waiting game. Keep the faith and be persistent! Make sure your former teammates know it may take 6-9 months for retirement to be finalized and that it’s no joke. Thank you for your service and cheers to a healthy, rewarding retirement!