NASA retiree says pension disappeared as Illinois senator cites broader backlog concerns

WINFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- A west suburban woman says she has spent nearly two years trying to access a pension she earned while working as an engineer for NASA, and her case may reflect a larger issue involving delays in federal retirement benefits.

Dr. Sylvia Washington of Winfield told the ABC7 I-Team she has been attempting to collect her NASA pension since 2024.

"It's a horror story," Washington said.

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Washington worked at the NASA Lewis Research Center, now known as NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, from August 1987 to October 1992 as an electronics engineer. She said those five years made her vested and eligible for pension benefits.

While pursuing her pension claim, Washington said she was told by the government that additional days of service were missing from her record. She later learned those extra days were not required, according to her account.

During an interview, Washington discussed the importance of receiving the benefit she earned.

"I did not believe I would be in a situation," she said.

Washington estimates the pension could be worth about $2,000 per month, but she said her frustration now goes beyond the money.

"But it's never been about the money. I'm serious. It's not even about the money at this point in time is about the deception. It's about the runaround," Washington said.

To support her claim, Washington provided employment records, a NASA work identification card, photographs from her time at the agency and a pension form she recently completed with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the federal agency that administers pensions and other retirement benefits. She was also featured in a 2022 issue of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine that highlighted her NASA career.

"I'm a real person. I file taxes. The federal government has data from other parts of its system. This shows that I work there. So, to me, why are they doing this?" Washington said.

NASA referred questions about the case to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. After several email exchanges, an agency spokesperson told the I-Team that staff members understand the case, are actively working on it and will provide additional information if available.

The office of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is also assisting Washington.

"My office has reached out directly to the US Office of Personnel Management on behalf Ms. Washington inquiring about her case," Duckworth's office said. The senator's office added, "We are aware of the significant backlog of retiree pension cases at OPM and will continue to do everything possible to help individuals access the benefits they deserve."

Washington believes other retirees may be facing similar problems.

"I do not feel that I'm the only person that this is happening to. I don't . I think it's happening to a lot of seniors," she said.

The I-Team also asked the Office of Personnel Management to respond to Duckworth's statement regarding what the senator described as a significant backlog of retiree pension cases. According to the script, OPM did not respond.