Survivor's
Guide.
When a federal employee or retiree passes away, survivors face urgent benefit decisions under enormous stress. This guide walks you through exactly what needs to happen — reporting the death, continuing your annuity and health coverage, cashing in insurance, and securing the estate — step by step.
When a federal retiree
passes away.
Survivors face a long list of time-sensitive tasks at the worst possible moment. The purpose of this guide — and the Survivor's Checklist — is to make that process as clear and manageable as possible, so your family can focus on grieving rather than paperwork.
Survivors must report deaths to OPM to continue their annuity after a retiree passes on — or to stop the annuity for the surviving spouse when he or she dies. You must also process survivor benefit changes, cash in insurance policies, and change asset registrations. Proper advance planning can dramatically reduce your estate costs through probate avoidance techniques.
This section is designed to help survivors at this difficult time. Our Estate Planning section walks through the advance planning that makes this process easier for everyone involved — assembling a Survivor's Guide binder, keeping beneficiary designations current, and making sure your loved ones know where to find everything they need.
The most important thing to do first: notify OPM
OPM must be notified of a retiree's death as quickly as possible. Annuity payments will continue until OPM is notified — and any payments received after the date of death must be returned. Conversely, the survivor's annuity cannot begin until OPM processes the death report and survivor application.
You can report a death online at servicesonline.opm.gov or by calling OPM at 1-888-767-6738, weekdays 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.
The Survivor's
Checklist.
This free four-page checklist outlines the key information your heirs will need at a critical and stressful time. All federal employees and retirees should download this form, fill in the information, and file it with your estate plans or in your retirement file.
The Survivor's Checklist guides your family through reporting a death, ensuring benefits continue, and confirming that essential forms are submitted so that a surviving spouse's annuity and health insurance will continue without interruption. It covers the complete sequence of actions — from the immediate notification of OPM through the longer-term tasks of settling the estate and changing asset registrations.
Every federal employee and retiree should fill this out in advance and store it with their will and estate documents — ideally in the Survivor's Guide binder described in the Estate Planning Guide. Your surviving spouse or executor should know exactly where to find it.
What the Survivor's Checklist covers
Reporting the death to OPM
Step-by-step instructions for notifying OPM — online, by phone, or by mail — to initiate the survivor benefit process and stop annuity payments as of the date of death.
Continuing annuity and health coverage
What the surviving spouse needs to do to begin receiving their survivor annuity, continue FEHB health coverage, and elect or waive other ongoing benefits.
Filing insurance claims
How to file a FEGLI life insurance claim (Form FE-6), contact private insurance carriers, and identify all policies using the information in the Survivor's binder.
Changing asset registrations and accounts
Retitling jointly-held accounts, processing POD and TOD designations, notifying financial institutions, and working with the successor trustee if a living trust is in place.
Download the Survivor's Checklist
Reporting the death
of an annuitant.
Two separate processes are required: reporting the death to stop or transfer annuity payments, and filing the Application for Death Benefits to initiate the survivor's benefit. Both must be completed promptly.
Step 1 — Report the death to OPM immediately
To report the death of a retiree, survivor annuitant, or federal employee receiving benefits from OPM, use one of the following methods:
Step 2 — File the Application for Death Benefits
Complete the appropriate Application for Death Benefits for the retiree's retirement system and mail it to OPM with the required supporting documents:
What to attach to the application
Along with the completed application form, include a copy of the employee's or retiree's death certificate and a copy of the marriage certificate (for widow or widower claims). A widow or widower claiming benefits for themselves and on behalf of children should file one combined application — not separate applications.
Mail completed applications to:
U.S. Office of Personnel ManagementRetirement Operations Center
ATTENTION: Survivor Processing Section
Post Office Box 45
Boyers, Pennsylvania 16017-0045
Survivor guides
& resources.
OPM publishes dedicated survivor guides for both CSRS and FERS. Download and store the appropriate booklet in your Survivor's Guide binder alongside your will and estate documents.
CSRS Survivor Guide — OPM official publication
FERS Survivor Guide — OPM official publication
TSP Death Benefits & Withdrawal Options for Beneficiaries
Survivor Annuity Concerns — issues to consider when electing a survivor's annuity
Survivors Annuity — elections, costs, and what the surviving spouse receives
Estate Planning Guide — 11-part series including the complete Survivor's Guide binder
Store the survivor guide in your Survivor's Binder
Download the OPM survivor guide for your retirement system (CSRS or FERS), print it, and store it in your Survivor's Guide binder alongside your will, trust documents, and completed Survivor's Checklist. Your surviving spouse should know where the binder is located — ideally in a fireproof home safe or clearly labeled file cabinet, not a bank safe deposit box which may be sealed at death.