Postal Retirees Hit by OPM Backlog Despite Digital Processing Gains

4 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Apr 10

Thousands of retired postal workers are facing months-long delays in receiving federal retirement benefits due to a significant backlog at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The backlog reached a record 65,237 cases in February 2026 but dropped by 15% in March as OPM increased digital processing of claims.
Paper-based applications continue to slow processing, leaving many retirees struggling financially while OPM works to further modernise its system.

What systemic failures caused a predictable retirement surge to cripple the federal benefits system?

With the USPS suspending pension payments, what is the true state of its financial health?

The retirement backlog is finally shrinking, but is the worst of this processing crisis over?

Why does retirement paperwork take 120 days before federal processing even begins?

As Washington pushes for digital-only claims, what happens to retirees who are not tech-savvy?

Is the government's interim pay enough to save thousands of waiting retirees from financial ruin?