@macuser_22 Forget my question. I figured it out. But for anyone else confused as to how to get to the simplified method:
When Turbotax asks if the amount in block 1 of the OPM 1099R is "the taxable amount" the user has to select "No". I selected "yes" :(. Don't know for how many of you this was the problem but if you select "no" then it asks if you want to use the simplified method.
