Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Service

1920

1954

1959

1986	Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 97-102	Date: February 10, 1997

SUBJECT

DISCUSSION

EXCEPTION TO

THE EXCEPTIONS:

CANADA

AGENCY ROLE

SPECIAL VERSION

OF EFT LETTER

ATTACHMENTS

SPECIAL SIGN-UP

FORM

CERTIFICATION

REQUIRED IN

EITHER CASE

PACKAGES

RECEIVED

WITHOUT

CERTIFICATION

OTHER OVERSEAS

ANNUITANTS

CANNOT BE PAID

BY EFT FOR NOW

Direct Deposit To Canada

As described in BAL 96-104, Public Law 104-134 requires that Federal payees first eligible for payment on or after July 26, 1996, are to be paid by direct deposit. The only legal exception is those individuals who certify that they do not have a checking or savings account into which the electronic payment could be deposited. Practical exceptions have existed for retirement contribution refunds, lump-sum death benefits, and annuities with permanent payment addresses outside the United States, because until now, OPM was unable to make any of these payments by direct deposit.

As of January 2, 1997, OPM can pay annuities by International Direct Deposit to addresses in Canada. The practical exception preventing P.L. 104-134 from applying to payees residing in Canada no longer exists, and therefore the requirements of that law now do apply to applicants for retirement and survivor annuities living in Canada. BAL 96-104 provides a general description of these requirements.

Please inform all retiring employees and survivors of deceased employees eligible for survivor annuities, with permanent payment addresses in Canada, of the requirement to arrange for direct deposit of their payments into a checking or savings account, and the need to certify in writing if they have no account and have to be paid by check. The special EFT Information/Certification Letter (Canada) (see below) should be distributed to these annuity applicants.

BAL 96-104 contained an EFT Information/Certification Letter designed for general distribution to annuity applicants. Exhibit 1 of this BAL is an adjusted version of the EFT Information/Certification Letter, modified with information uniquely applicable to annuity applicants residing in Canada.

The Attachments to this BAL: EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1), RI 16-26, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada) (Attachment 2), and Instructions and Information on Completing

RI 16-26 (Attachment 3), should be distributed as Attachments to the EFT Information/Certification Letter (Exhibit 1).

RI 16-26 must be completed by retirees residing in Canada to arrange for direct deposit of their annuities, and may be enclosed with the retirement package (attached to the signed certification, see below) or submitted by the financial institution. Neither Standard Form 1199A, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form, nor the direct deposit sign-up sections of certain FERS application forms (SF 3104 & SF 3107, 1995 and later editions) can be used to establish direct deposit in Canada. RI 16-26 is specifically designed for this purpose.

The certification on Attachment 1 should be completed and included with the annuity application package regardless of whether the individual is signing up for direct deposit or certifying that he or she does not have an account into which annuity payments could be directly deposited.

OPM will send the appropriate EFT Information/Certification Letter to retirement and survivor annuity applicants residing in the United States and Canada whose applications are received without EFT information or certification. This will not affect interim payments, but it is an additional step in the benefit claim process which we can easily avoid if we can get the EFT data, or certification in writing, up-front.

Payees whose permanent addresses for receiving payments are outside the United States and Canada still cannot be paid by EFT. No EFT election or certification is required from these individuals. OPM expects to add Italy to its International Direct Deposit connection sometime in 1997. We will notify agencies whenever it becomes possible for OPM to make direct deposit payments to additional countries, at which time the requirements of P.L. 104-134 will apply to annuity applicants residing in those countries as well.

/s/

Sidney M. Conley

Assistant Director

for Retirement Programs	Exhibit 1

EFT INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION LETTER - FEDERAL PAYMENT APPLICANTS

(CANADA)

Office of Personnel Management

Retirement and Insurance Group

Dear Applicant:

We are pleased to announce that, as of January 2, 1997, your annuity can be paid by Direct Deposit at financial institutions in Canada. With Direct Deposit, payments are sent electronically directly into Canadian dollar checking or savings accounts at banks, trust companies, credit unions, and caisses populaires. More than two-thirds of retirees have Direct Deposit. They gave it a 97% approval rating in a recent survey. That's because Direct Deposit is a win-win situation all around. You avoid the bother of traveling to a bank or other financial institution to cash or deposit your check. You save travel costs and time. Both you and OPM are saved the worry that the check will be lost in the mail.

Compared with Treasury checks mailed from the United States, Direct Deposit to Canada offers greater security, timeliness and convenience. Gone are check cashing fees and delays to clear checks. Payments will be made to your account in Canadian dollars on the first business day of the month at the most favorable commercial exchange rate available about two days prior to that date.

U.S. Public Law 104-134 requires that, unless the payee does not have a savings or checking account, all Federal payments, eligibility for which began on or after July 26, 1996, are to be paid by Direct Deposit through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) into a savings or checking account at a financial institution. With the initiation of Direct Deposit to Canada, these requirements now apply to residents in Canada newly eligible for U.S. Federal payments on or after January 2, 1997. This same law will require all U.S. Federal payments after January 1, 1999, to be made by Direct Deposit. By signing up now, you avoid having to be contacted later to arrange for Direct Deposit.

Whether you sign up for Direct Deposit or not, please complete the attached EFT Information/ Certification form and submit it with your application package. Failure to complete it may result in a delay in payment. To sign up for Direct Deposit, complete the EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1) and the RI 16-26, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada) (Attachment 2). Attachment 3 provides information about Direct Deposit and instructions for completing RI 16-26. If you do not have an account into which your annuity payment may be directly deposited, and do not establish one or have one established for you, you must certify to that fact in writing. Part B of the EFT Information/ Certification form (Attachment 1) may be used for this purpose.

If you have questions about Direct Deposit in Canada you may call (202) 606-0540. Please direct other questions to (202) 606-0500. Only English is spoken at these telephone numbers.

Thank you.

Office of Retirement Programs

{REPRODUCE LOCALLY}

Attachments

Attachment 1

Applicant's Name

Social Security #

Date of Birth

EFT INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION

To have your annuity payment(s) made by Direct Deposit, complete the Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada) (RI 16-26) and Section A (below). Indicate whether you are enclosing RI 16-26, or your financial institution will send it. If you do not have a checking or savings account into which your payment could be deposited (OPM can only make electronic deposits in Canadian banks into Canadian dollar accounts), please complete the certification in Section B. In either case, please complete this form and include it with your application.

NOTE: None of the Direct Deposit sign-up forms used by U.S. residents; i.e., SF 1199A, Section I of SF 3107 (November 1995), Section H of SF 3104 (December 1995), etc., can be used to establish Direct Deposit in Canadian banks. RI 16-26 is specifically designed for this function.

Section A

I hereby certify the information I entered on the RI 16-26, Direct Deposit Sign-Up form is correct.

□	I am enclosing the completed RI 16-26.

□	My financial institution will send the completed RI 16-26. (Enter identifying information.)

Name, Address and Telephone Number	Account Type

of your financial institution.

□ Checking	□ Savings

Checking or Savings Account Number

( )

Signature	Date

Section B

I hereby certify that I do not have a savings or checking account in any financial institution into which my annuity payment could be directly deposited, and that none has been established for me by an authorized payment agent. Please send me my payment(s) by check.

Signature	Date

Attachment 2

Direct Deposit Sign-up Form (Canada)

Application For Payment of United States Civil Service Retirement Monthly Benefits

By Direct Deposit To A Financial Institution In Canada

Instructions:	For Direct Deposit, please complete sections 1 and 2. Your financial institution must complete section 3. Your payments will be made in Canadian dollars to your account.

Mail completed form to:	U.S. Office of Personnel Management

IDD Enrollment

P.O. Box 7815

Washington, DC. 20044 USA

Please print your responses.

Section 1 Name (Last, first, middle initial) Claim number

Address (City and postal code)

Daytime telephone number

Person entitled to payment

Section 2 (This Must Be A Canadian Dollar Account.) Account ownership My own account Joint Account	Payee Certification

I certify that I have read and understand the instructions provided with this form. My signature authorizes the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to send my monthly civil service retirement payment to the account at the financial institution designated below. Signature Date

Joint Account Holder's Certification

I certify that I have read and understand the instructions provided with this form, including the "Special Notice To Joint Account Holders". Signature Date

Section 3 (To Be Completed By Your Financial Institution.) Name/address of financial institution Type of account

Checking/Current Savings/Deposit

Please Insert Your MICR Encoded Direct Payment Routing Number

Branch/Transit number Institution number Account number (Must Be Canadian Dollar Account)

0

Verified by Telephone number Date

Important Information - Please Read Carefully

The information you give on this form is confidential. We need this information to send your U.S. Civil Service Retirement payment directly to a Canadian dollar account at your financial institution in Canada. The information also helps us process your request as quickly as possible.

If your address changes you must inform the U.S. Office of Personnel Management because important notices about your benefits will still be mailed to your home address.

Information About Currency Conversion

Your U.S. Civil Service Retirement payment is automatically converted to Canadian dollars a few days before it is deposited into your account. The exchange rate used may be different from the rate in effect on the day you receive your payment.

Special Notice to Joint Account Holders

If a person who receives Civil Service Retirement payment dies, you must contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and your financial institution right away. Any payments that you receive after that person dies must be returned to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. We can then work quickly to determine whether any other benefits are due.

Changing Financial Institutions Or Accounts

If you change your financial institution or your account, you should notify the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. You will need to fill out a new sign-up form. Do not close your old account until your payments have started coming to your new account.

Cancellation

To cancel direct deposit, write to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and contact your financial institution. Do not close your bank account until your payments have started coming to your home address.

Completing the Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form

In Section 1, fill in your name, address, Civil Service Retirement Claim Number, daytime telephone number, and name of the person who is entitled to the payment.

The claim number is very important. "CSA" or "CSF" is followed by 7 numerical digits. At the end of the claim number there is an additional 1 digit number or letter (Examples: CSA 1 111 111 0, CSF 1 111 111 W).

Note: Annuity applicants who have not yet been assigned a retirement (CSA) or survivor (CSF) number should leave the space blank.

In Section 2, sign the certification. If there is a joint account holder, that person should read the Special Notice to Joint Account Holders, above, and sign the Joint Account Holder's Certification on the RI 16-26.

Take or send this form to your financial institution. An official there will fill in Section 3 and then you or your financial institution should send the completed form to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at the address shown at the front of the form. If you have not already submitted your application for retirement or survivor annuity, and you have an RI 16-26 fully completed by you and your financial institution, please attach the completed RI 16-26 to the signed EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1) and include both with your application package, instead of mailing the RI 16-26. If your financial institution is submitting the RI 16-26 for you, they should mail it to the address indicated.

If you have any questions about direct deposit, you may call (202) 606-0540. If you have other questions, please call

(202) 606-0500. Only English is spoken at these telephone numbers.

Renseignements Importants - Lire Soigneusement SVP

Les renseignemets que vous nous donnez dans ce formulaire sont confidentials. Nous avons besoin de ces reseignements pour que les payments de retraite du U.S. Civil Service puissent etre envoyes directement, en dollars canadiens, a votre compte dans une institution financiere de votre choix au Canada. Ces renseignements aident egalement a traiter vos requetes aussi rapidement que possible.

Si vous changer d'adresse vous deves informer immediatetement le U.S. Office of Personnel Management parce que des communications importantes concernant vos benefices continueront a etre envoyees a votre ancienne adresse.

Renseignements Concernant Le Cours Du Change

Vos payments de retraite du Civil Service des Etats-Unis sont convertis automatiquement au cours du dollar canadien effectif quelques jours avant d'etre deposes dans votre compte. Le taux du change peut etre different de celui ou vous recevez votre payment.

Detenteurs De Comptes Joints

Si une personne recevant une retraite du Civil Service des Etats-Unis meurt, vous devez immediatement entrer en rapport avec le U.S. Office of Personnel Management et votre institution financiere. Tout payment recu apres la mort de cette personne doit entre immediatement renvoye au U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Nous pourrons alors determiner rapidement si d'autres benefices sont dus.

Changement D'institution Financiere Ou De Compte

Si vous changez d'institution financiere ou de numero de compte, vous deves immediatement informer le U.S. Office of

Personnel Management. Vous devrez remplir un nouveau formulaire "sign up". Ne fermez pas votre ancien compte jusqu'a ce que les payments arrivent a votre nouveau compte.

Annulement

Pour annuler votre depot direct vous devez ecrire au U.S. Office of Personnel Management et entrer en rapport avec votre institution financiere. Ne fermez pas votre compte jusqu'a ce que les cheques arrivent a votre adresse.

Comment Remplir Le Formulaire Direct Depot Sign-Up

Dans la section 1, ecrivez votre nom, adresse, votre numero de pension du Civil Service, votre numero de telephone pendant la journee et le nom de la personne qui a droit au payment.

Le numero de la pension est extrement important - "CSA" ou "CSF" suivi de sept chiffres. A la fin du numero de pen-sion, il y a un chiffre supplementaire ou une lettre. Par exemple: CSA 111 1 111 0 ou CSF 1 111 111 W.

[Note: Annuity applicants who have not yet been assigned a CSA or CSF number should leave the space blank.]

Dans la section 2, signez la certification. S'il y a un detenteur de compte joint, la personne qui a le compte avec vous doit lire la note ci-dessus "Detenteur De Comptes Joints" et signer la certification de Detenteur de Compte Joint.

Portez ou envoyez ce formulaire a votre institution financiere. Un officiel de votre institution financiere replira la section 3 du formulaire et vous, ou l'institution, enverrez le formulaire dument rempli au U.S. Office of Personnel Management a l'adresse indiquee sur la premiere page. [If you have not already submitted your application for retirement or survivor annuity, and you have an RI 16-26 fully completed by you and your financial institution, please attach the completed RI 16-26 to the signed EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1) and include both with your application package instead of mailing the RI 16-26. If your financial institution is submitting the RI 16-26 for you, they should mail it to the address indicated.]

Si vous avez de questions concernant le depot direct au Canada, vous pouvez appeler le numero suivant: (202) 606-0540. Pour toute autre question, appelez le numero (202) 606-0500. On parle seulement anglais a cez deux numeros.

Instructions For Annuity Applicants*

For

Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada) RI 16-26

The enclosed Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada), RI 16-26, is for your use to authorize the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to send your monthly civil service annuity payments to a checking or savings account at your financial institution in Canada. Please read the information on the back of the form and complete the form carefully.

You must complete Sections 1 and 2. After that take or send the form to your financial institution for further completion. Your financial institution will enter the information in Section 3. Either you* or your financial institution must send the completed form to:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

IDD Enrollment

P.O. Box 7815

Washington, DC 20044

USA

Your payments will be made into your account in Canadian dollars. The account must be a Canadian dollar account in order to receive payment by direct deposit.

It is also very helpful if you provide a daytime telephone number, so that we can get in touch with you quickly in the event there is a problem processing this authorization.

If you have any questions about direct deposit in Canada, you may call (202) 606-0540. Please direct other kinds of questions you may have to (202) 606-0500. Only English is spoken at both of these telephone numbers.

*If you have not already submitted your application for retirement or survivor annuity, and you have an RI 16-26 fully completed by you and your financial institution, please attach the completed RI 16-26 to the signed EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1) and include both with your application package instead of mailing the RI 16-26. If your financial institution is submitting the RI 16-26 for you, they should mail it to the address indicated.

Instructions Pour Les Pensionnaires

Pour Le

Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada) RI 16-26

Le formulaire inclus "Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (Canada), RI 16-26" est destine a votre usage pour autoriser le U.S. Office of Personnel Management a envoyer les payments mensuels de votre pension a votre compte de cheques ou d'epargne dans une institution financiere de votre choix au Canada. SVP, lisez attentivement les instructions qui se trouvent au dos du formulaire et remplissez le formulaire avec soin.

Vous devez remplir les sections 1 et 2. Ensuite, porter ce formulaire ou envoyer-le a l'institution financiere choisie qui remplira la section 3. Vous* ou l'institution financiere devrez alors envoyer le formulaire a l'adresse suivante:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

IDD Enrollment

P.O. Box 7815

Washington, D.C. 20044

USA

Vos payments seront verses en dollars canadiens a votre compte. Le compte doit etre en dollars canadiens pour recevoir les payments directs.

Nous vous serions reconnaissants de bien vouloir nous donner un numero de telephone pour vous appeler durant la journee au cas ou le traitement de cette autorisation presenterait des difficultes.

Si vous avez des questions concernant le depot direct an Canada, vous pouvez appeler le numero suivant: (202) 606-0540. Pour toute autre question, appelez le numero (202) 606-0500. On parle seulement anglais a ces deux numeros.

*If you have not already submitted your application for retirement or survivor annuity, and you have an RI 16-26 fully completed by you and your financial institution, please attach the completed RI 16-26 to the signed EFT Information/Certification form (Attachment 1) and include both with your application package instead of mailing the RI 16-26. If your financial institution is submitting the RI 16-26 for you, they should mail it to the address indicated.