OPM Seal

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Service
Benefits Administration Letter
Number: 99-101

January 6, 1999

Subject: Common Problems Encountered in Documentation for Retirements Under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

This Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) shares information on some of the problems The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has encountered with FERS applications for retirement and survivor benefits, and supporting documentation, and suggests ways to avoid these problems. When we do not receive the correct application or all of the documentation needed to process a retirement claim, we must obtain the missing information. In each instance where this occurs, the primary result is a delay in authorizing payments to the applicant. We believe the attached information will eliminate any confusion that may still exist concerning the proper application to use and the documentation required in support of an application for retirement or survivor benefits.

Sections 1 to 13 outline specific problems we have encountered, as well as suggestions on how to avoid the problem. Each section also provides the appropriate CSRS/FERS Handbook reference(s).

The Attachment contains two handouts that should be shared with employees contemplating disability retirement. They are "FERS Disability Facts" and "FERS Disability Computation Facts". The handouts provide important information on FERS disability retirement. We have learned over time that there is still quite a bit of confusion surrounding certain aspects of FERS disability retirement. We believe the two handouts will help potential disability retirees better understand all aspects of FERS disability retirement.

We hope that by working together, we can eliminate many of the problems that cause delays in processing and improve the timeliness of service provided retirees and survivors.

Sidney M. Conley
Assistant Director for
Retirement Programs


The sections cover the following subjects:

Section Subject
1 FERS Disability and Social Security Benefits
2 FERS Retirement and OWCP
3 FERS Disability Retirement Involving Deposits and Redeposits for Civilian Service
4 The Last Day of Pay in FERS Disability Retirements
5 Post-1956 Military Service Deposit
6 Commencing Date of FERS Annuities
7 Forms-Applications for Death Benefits
8 FERS Death-in-Service With Basic Employee Death Benefit Payable-Deceased in Additionl Pay Status (APS) at the Time-of-Death
9 Life Insurance Eligibility
10 Dcoumenting Part-Time Service
11 Requirements for Retiring With 5 Years of Service
12 Crediting Sick Leave With a CSRS Component
13 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Documentation

Attachment

1 FERS Disability Facts
2 FERS Disability Computation Facts

Download PDF File (90K)


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