Q. I will be retiring in April 2016 at 62 years old with 29 years as a FERS employee. How soon after should I start receiving my pension?
A. It depends in part on how fast your agency sends your retirement file to OPM. After OPM receives it, they’ll send you an acknowledgment. If there are no problems with your file, you’ll be put in interim pay, which represents a percentage of the final amount you’ll be due. Since annuity payments are made at the end of the month in which they are earned, you should see your first interim payment no later than six weeks after OPM receives your file. When OPM confirms your final annuity amount, you’ll receive a retroactive annuity payment for the difference between your interim pay and your final annuity amount.
