OPM

[Guest BED]

Is anyone else having problems with OPM processing division orders resulting from a divorce for benefits that are already in a pay status? I have three orders with OPM, some since the summer of 2007, that have not been processed. When we finally contact someone at OPM, the answer is always the same. OPM claims not to have a certified copy of the order, etc, etc, etc. Does anyone know how to contact someone at OPM who really knows what's going on?

[CADMT]

Is anyone else having problems with OPM processing division orders resulting from a divorce for benefits that are already in a pay status? I have three orders with OPM, some since the summer of 2007, that have not been processed. When we finally contact someone at OPM, the answer is always the same. OPM claims not to have a certified copy of the order, etc, etc, etc. Does anyone know how to contact someone at OPM who really knows what's going on?

I have considerable experience with OPM Court Ordered Benefits Branch (COOB) as a retired fed and respondent in a case. COOB is short staffed and relatively incompetent. The primary work is being accomplished by paralegals, who unlike private sector paralegals have difficulty in comprehending QDROs prepared by attorneys who mistakenly believe they are dealing with an ERISA plan. Consequently, OPM is likely to get it wrong when even when they determine that the DRO is a court order acceptable for processing (COAP).

They literally will not do anything unless they have a certified copy of the court in their hands. That would be step 1 in my view. Step 2 is wait for them to get around to processing the order and be prepared for the reconsideration process when they get it wrong. It took me 15 months to get them to accomplish the proper calculations.