Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees are scheduled to receive their next regular annuity payment on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
This deposit is payment for August 2026, since the Office of Personnel Management pays federal retirement annuities after the month they cover. September 1 is a normal business day, so the payment does not need to move because of a weekend or federal holiday.
September FERS payment date
The September 1 deposit is the key date for current federal retirees. If you receive your pension by direct deposit, your bank or credit union may show the money at a different time of day, but OPM’s scheduled payment date is September 1.
The following payments will follow the regular first-business-day pattern:
| Annuity earned for | Scheduled payment date |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
| September 2026 | Thursday, October 1, 2026 |
| October 2026 | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| November 2026 | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 |
| December 2026 | Monday, January 4, 2027 |
The October annuity is paid on November 2 because November 1 falls on a Sunday. The payment for December is pushed to January 4, 2027, because New Year’s Day is a federal holiday and the following days are part of the weekend.
How OPM retirement payments work
The Office of Personnel Management administers retirement annuities for FERS and Civil Service Retirement System beneficiaries. In most cases, OPM schedules regular annuity payments for the first business day of the next month.
For example, the money received on September 1 is the retirement annuity for August. The payment received on October 1 covers September. This timing is important for retirees planning rent, mortgage, medical bills and other beginning-of-month expenses.
If your payment has not arrived
Start by contacting your bank or credit union. An institution may be able to confirm whether an OPM deposit is pending, delayed or posted under a different transaction description.
If the bank cannot find the payment, use OPM’s Report a Missing Payment service. You can also reach OPM Retirement Services at 1-888-767-6738.
Retirees can review their annuity details and make certain updates through OPM Services Online. The portal can be used for direct-deposit changes, federal tax-withholding elections, annuity statements and other account services.
New retirees may have a different timeline
The September 1 schedule applies to established annuitants who already receive a regular monthly FERS payment. New federal retirees may initially receive interim payments while OPM reviews and finalizes their retirement claim.
Interim payments are usually only a portion of the final retirement annuity, and the schedule can differ until OPM completes the case. OPM reported an average interim-pay processing time of six days for cases processed in August 2026, though completing a full retirement claim may take longer.
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