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Return to Article: New retirement claims system not ready for rollout, GAO says

• 55822
  

  It is unbelievable that after all these years , of all the attempts to copy private industry the US Government has failed in this respect. You put in the time you retire the check shows up next month. Answer me why people have to wait months to get paid?

  CHARLES MCCREDIT Posted August 5, 2008 3:49 PM
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  I agree with "rooster". We'll just have an AUTOMATED mess/morass on our hands. All I've ever seen out of OPM automated systems is a weak ability to automate paper - I don't think they even understand the basics of system integration.

  I currently plan to retire in about 5 years. I seriously doubt OPM will have this working by then, but if they do, I'll still have all my paper records to document the corrections I'm confident will be needed in their "automated" system.

  Old Tar Posted February 6, 2008 10:47 AM
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  OPM has been aggressively failing at retirement system modernization (RSM) for seventeen years. By 1993 alone, the agency had blown well over 25 million taxpayer dollars through gross mismanagement of RSM related contracts. At the time, OMB officials brushed off the losses joking that NASA lost that much every week. OPM's Inspector General is unwilling, incapable, and unqualified to provide legally required assistance and accountability oversight to agency operating programs. Therefore, confusion, deception, and program fraud will continue to be the order of the day at OPM.

  Ken Huffman Posted February 5, 2008 9:58 AM
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  Is Linda Springer another "Bush," appointee? Probably. If so it would explain why she is in over her head. We have to look no further than FEMA to see how "Bush," appointees are chosen. Hold on to your hats and start pinching your pennies we're going to need them.

  Top TTO Posted February 5, 2008 1:05 AM
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  Director Springer is no doubt well intentioned. What she doesn't realize is the complexity of the Retirement System and the inadequacy of the off-the-shelf solution that OPM has purchased. Given the poor testing results, the delay of key functionality, and the difficulty of procuring the retirement data in a workable electronic format, the chances for success are remote. I wish her and OPM the best in pursuing this option and assume the bill will crest $1 billion by the time their done.

  formeropmer Posted February 4, 2008 4:33 PM
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  I will not be surprised to find that I have problems with the retirement system. Several recent retiree's are having problems now with OPM and had problems during the process. Is it too much to think that it could be ironed out by Sept?? HA, HA, HA!!!

  Mark Glass Posted February 4, 2008 11:36 AM
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  I suspect eventually the new OPM system will work once sufficient time & money has been expended...but in the mean time what?? My retirement experience was abysmal. Over 2 months prior to my retirement I correctly requested my Voluntary Contributions be disbursed on my retirement date, 30 April 2007. Our OPM friends failed to act on that directive until I called in early May. Their excuse was all problems will be solved with the new system and too bad our mistake cost you money! My DD 214 (military time) clearly shows I served 3 years, 3 days. I was credited with 2 years, 11 months?? Resolution is still pending. For OPM to rely on technology to solve management & employee problems is asinine. They need to get to the root of their problems & hire sufficient fully trained, dedicated staff that are held accountable.

  William J. B. Pringle Posted February 4, 2008 10:09 AM
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  """""Unlike past initiatives to address this major deficiency in a core OPM function, this project will have a successful outcome," she wrote."""

  SURE it will Ms Springer

  I sure as hell don't want to be the first retiree to use this system considering what we have seen in the past initiatives such as the SSA and TSP fiascos!

  If one automates a MESS/MORASS one has an AUTOMATED mess/morass on their hands. Simplify and clarify and minimize the manual operation and make THAT work, THEN you automate that.

  rooster Posted February 1, 2008 5:47 PM