‘That’s unfair’: IRS retiree hasn’t received her benefits in months

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After a move by the Trump Administration to reduce the federal workforce, a Richmond IRS retiree and others haven't received their retirement benefits in months.

For more than three decades, Raquel Byrd said she gave her all during her time employed at the IRS.

“I loved every minute of it,” said Byrd. She went on to say, "I am very proud of the job that I did for 33 years.”

After years of service, Byrd told 8News she never thought the agency she loved working for would leave her hanging.

Like thousands across the country, Byrd said she was notified about her eligibility to enter the deferred resignation program, an early retirement program offered as the Trump Administration made moves to reduce the federal workforce.

“It was just becoming too much that my health and mental state of mind was way more important than a job,” Byrd said.

Byrd left the office in May and received a form of paid leave through September of 2025, when she was set to retire. On Oct. 1, the government shut down, and Byrd said she was left with no choice but to be patient. Although the government reopened two months ago, Byrd tells 8News she never received her benefits and never learned when her retirement application will be completed.

“We are now going on four months of no pay, no retirement pay, no vacation pay, nothing,” Byrd said.

Adding to her financial limbo, Byrd has not officially been separated from the agency. She has since received notification to pay for her healthcare, including vision and dental insurance, while she waits. In the meantime, she said she has had to tap into her other retirement savings early, which comes with penalties.

"We just want to put this all behind us. We just want to put this all behind us. If you asked us to leave and we left, then do us right and let us go with what we earned," Byrd said.

Byrd showed 8News the emails she received from the IRS stating the agency experienced a high influx of claims. However, the emails never provided her with a point of contact or told her when she could expect to receive payments.

"I'm not out here fighting for myself. I'm fighting for federal workers as a whole," Byrd said.

8News reached out to multiple lawmakers, who told 8News they have heard from dozens of Virginians in the same situation.

After telling Congresswoman Jennifer McClullen about Byrd's situation, her office told 8News, "our office is in touch with Raquel, and we’re going to see what we can do to expedite her case. We have heard of a similar case from one other person and are connecting with them as well."

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine provided 8News with the following statements:

Sen. Warner’s office has heard from dozens of Virginians who opted into the Trump-Musk deferred resignation program and whose applications have yet to be processed by their employing agency. It is our understanding that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management cannot move forward with payment until they receive this paperwork from employees’ respective agencies.

Senator Mark Warner

“The Administration pressured federal employees to take the Deferred Resignation Program offer, and then failed to prepare for the influx of claims after September 30. It's time for the Administration to fix the problem it created by working to ensure that everyone who took the offer receives the benefits they’ve earned as quickly as possible. My team has reached out to the Internal Revenue Service and the Office of Personnel Management for an update.”

Senator Tim Kaine

The Office of Personnel Management handles these applications. As of December 2025, the office has more than 50,000 claims to process. A spokesperson told 8News that anyone who can't find answers about their account on OPM.gov or through the OPM Retirement Services Online portal can call the office at 1-888-767-6738.