FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 1997

CONTACT: Sharon J. Wells (202) 606-1800 sjwells@opm.gov

OPM IMPROVES CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FEDERAL RETIREES

Washington, D.C.--Federal retirees who need to call the Office of Personnel Management can now dial the agency toll free.

With the activation of two new telephone numbers, OPM continues to fulfill its mission to provide fast, friendly, accurate and cost effective retirement and insurance services to annuitants and their families.

This expansion of customer service represents a real breakthrough in providing the best service possible to our federal annuitants who have provided their best service to the American people, said Acting OPM Director Janice Lachance.

This month, OPM added a toll-free telephone number to replace the (202) 606-0500 number currently used to reach the Retirement Information Office. The new number is 1-88 US OPM RET (1-888-767-6738). This number has the same automated features currently found on Annuitant Express as well as the capability to request replacement identification cards, OPM retirement forms and brochures, and verification of income, life insurance or survivor benefit rates.

The Retirement and Information Office will remain fully staffed by customer service representatives who will be available to help those people whose needs are not met by the automated system or for those who dont have a touch-tone telephone. Hearing impaired callers can continue to reach us through a TDD device on 1-800 878-5707.

Beginning October 28, Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798 will operate solely for the annual health benefits open season. Open season in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program permits current enrollees to change health plans or options. This year open season runs from November 10 through December 8. Using the toll-free number, federal retirees may:

• Make an open season enrollment change
• Request plan brochures
• Request information on canceling or suspending their enrollment
• Request information on paying premiums directly to OPM
• Request satisfaction survey information on how FEHB members rated their health plan
• Request a new open season package because they have moved to another state

Annuitant Express, which has been available since January 1996, is an interactive voice response system available 24- hours a day at 1-800 409-6528. During FY96, more than 100,000 annuitants used Annuitant Express to change their tax withholding. Retirees using this system can:

• Increase or decrease federal or state tax withholdings from their pensions
• Request a duplicate W-2 (Form 1099) for tax-filing purposes if it is lost
• Request U.S. Savings Bond deductions

OPM administers the retirement program for federal employees. There are currently over 2.3 million employee and survivor annuitants on OPMs rolls.

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