The articles I have in this issue will be the following:
      1. What to do in case of the death of an annuitant, a survivor annuitant, a spouse of an annuitant;
       2. Telephone numbers to get information/advice;
       3. A list of items to have in a safe place; and
       4. A list of resources for the Chapter Service Officer. ARTICLE #1 – WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A DEATH OF AN ANNUITANT (RETIREE)?
There are three basic steps and these steps should be taken immediately:
      1. Notify OPM by telephone at 1-888-767-6738 or contact your Chapter Service Officer
      2. Return any uncashed annuity checks to the return address shown on the envelope in which the check was delivered or notify the Financial Institution to stop the annuity if direct deposit is being used.
      3. Obtain six to eight certified copies of the death certificate.
Note: You may also notify OPM by letter. Write to OPM, Retirement Operations Center, Boyers, PA 16017 or E-mail: https://apps.opm.gov/retire/death/death.html
      Correspondence by mail, phone, or e-mail should furnish the following information:
Annuitant’s name, Annuitant’s Claim # (CSA#), Annuitant’s Social Security Number, Date of death, Date of birth, Name of contact person, Telephone number of contact person, Relationship to the survivor of contact person, Surviving spouse’s name, Spouse’s date of birth, Spouse’s social security number, Spouse’s address, Spouse’s telephone number, and whether there are minor children. Annuitant’s name, Annuitant’s Claim # (CSA#), Annuitant’s Social Security Number, Date of death, Date of birth, Name of contact person, Telephone number of contact person, Relationship to the survivor of contact person, Surviving spouse’s name, Spouse’s date of birth, Spouse’s social security number, Spouse’s address, Spouse’s telephone number, and whether there are minor children.

The following are the forms you will need to complete to mail to OPM:
       SF-2800 (Application for Death Benefits) a four page form (CSRS)
       FE-6 (Claim for Death Benefits) a four page form which is blue (CSRS & FERS)
       SF-3104 (Application for Death Benefits) a five page form (FERS)
       SF-2823 (Designation of Beneficiary) CSRS & FERS
      I also include a cover letter requesting where there is existing health plan has provided family coverage change to self-only coverage. You will need to mail two death certificates (one must be a certified copy and the other one can be a photo copy). You can also get these forms on-line at www.opm.gov/forms

I will add that its much faster if you work with your Chapter Service Officer and get the forms on line and complete them and mail to OPM. It takes three to four weeks to get the claims all processed I also tell my members to make a copy of all the forms before mailing for their personal copies and mail them by certified mail with a receipt.
      2. WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE SPOUSE OF A FEDERAL ANNUITANT OR THE DEATH OF A SURVIVOR ANNUITANT? For the death of the spouse of a Federal Annuitant or for the death of a Survivor Annuitant you must notify OPM of the death and furnish a Certified Death Certificate. Where death of the spouse of a Federal Annuitant you must request that your annuity be increased to full entitlement, health plan be changed to self-only coverage and the form SF-2823 (Designation of Beneficiary) on life insurance be forwarded to you.

ARTICLE #2-- CONTACTS TO OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM)
I. TO REPORT OR ASK QUESTIONS CONCERNING::
      a. Death of an annuitant or survivor annuitant;
            1. Change in marital status (divorce, marriage, death of a spouse;             2. A retiree or survivor annuity already in effect and being received.
OPM
Retirement Operations Center
Boyers, PA 16017 Or call 1-888-767-6738 (information office)
Or call 1-724-794-2005 (The Retirement Operation Center at Boyers, PA
You will need your CSA/CSF number and your Social Security number or PIN number.

II. TO INQUIRE ABOUT HEALTH BENEFITS, WRITE TO:
             OPM
             Health Insurance – Retirement
             P.O. Box 14172 (open season inquiries: P.O. Box 809)
             Washington, DC 20044
VV Or call 1-888-767-6738

III. TO INQUIRE ABOUT:
      a. Income tax withholding from an annuity, or
      b. Form CSA 1099R, Statement of Annuity Paid and form CSF 1099R, Statement of Survivor Annuity Paid, mailed by OPM each year, write to:
      c. To change the amount of federal or state income tax withholding
             OPM
             ROC
             Boyers, PA 16017
             ATTN: Tax Withholding
             Or call 1-800-409-6528 (have your CSA number & SSAN number available)

IV. CHANGING AN ANNUITANT’S MAILING ADDRESS:
      a. OPM will now accept changes of address and Direct Deposits enrollments by telephone,
1-888-767-6738

V. THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ GROUP LIFE INSURNACE (OFEGLI)
             P. O. Box 2627
             Jersey City, NJ 07303-2627 Or call 1-800-633-4542
       The telephone number is for use only after the death claim has been filed with OFEGLI.

ARTICLE #3 --- WHAT MY FAMILY SHOULD KNOW:        TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER:
       FEDERATION SERVICE OFFICER -------------------------- 1-253-531-4514
       CHAPTER SERVICE OFFICER -------------------------------
       OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM) ------- 1-888-767-6738
       SOCIAL SECURITY --------------------------------------------- 1-800-772-1213
       MEDICARE -------------------------------------------------------- 1-800-633-4227
       VA BENEFITS ----------------------------------------------------- 1-800-827-1000
       THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN--------------------------------------- 1-504-255-6000
       TRICARE FOR LIFE --------------------------------------------- 1-866-773-0404

IN CASE OF A DEATH NOTIFY THE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY:
      1. THE CHAPTER SERVICE OFFICER OR OPM
      2. GO TO YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND STOP YOUR DIRECT DEPOSIT
      3. REQUEST SIX OR MORE CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
      4. SOCIAL SECURITY
      5. MILITARY AFFAIRS/VA

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO KEEP IN YOUR PERSONAL FILES:
      1. YOUR CSA NUMBER (ANNUITANT) – CSF NUMBER (SURVIVOR ANNUITANT)
      2. BIRTH CERTIFICATE - SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
      3. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE – DIVORCE DECREE
      4. PERSONAL DATA INFORMATION
      5. CIVIL SERVICE ANNUITY STATEMENT
      6. YOUR CIVIL SERVICE “PIN” NUMBER
      7. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
      8. YOUR WILL – LIVING WILL – DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY – LIVING TRUST
      9. COMMUNITY PROPERTY AGREEMENT
      10. BANK ACCOUNTS (CHECKING, SAVINGS, CD’S & STOCKS)
      11. DEEDS/TITLES:        HOME – RENTALS – AUTOMOBILES – BOATS
      12. INSURANCE POLICIES:        AUTOMOBILES - CANCER – ACCIDENT & HEALTH – ALL PROPERTIES - LIFE – LONG TERM CARE

      13. MILITARY RECORDS:   ALL DD-214’S – SPONSOR’S ID – “PIN #” - MILITARY AFFAIRS & VA TEL. NO. -   RETIREMENT ORDERS – VETERANS DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE – CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR VA LOAN
      14. ALL CHARGE ACCOUNTS & CREDIT CARDS WITH “PIN” NUMBERS
      15. INCOME TAX DOCUMENTS
      16. PRE-ARRANGED FUNERAL DOCUMENTS
      17. LOCATION OF SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

IN EVERY WRITTEN OR CONTACT WITH OPM, THE ANNUITANT, SURVIVOR ANNUITANT OR REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
      1, FULL NAME OF ANNUITANT OR SURVIVOR ANNUITANT
      2. CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS WITH ZIP CODE
      3. CLAIM NUMBER (CSA OR CSF)
      4. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF ANNUITANT OR SURVIVOR ANNUITANT
      5. DATE OF BIRTH AND DATE OF DEATH

THINGS TO REMEMBER
      1. GO TO THE SERVICE CENTER OR CALL THE CHAPTER SERVICE OFFICER
      2. BENEFITS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY, YOU MUST APPLY

      3. MAKE COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS BEFORE MAILING TO OPM AND SEND THE DOCUMENTS BY CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A RECEIPT.
      4. NEVER CANCEL YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE (FEHBP)
      5. ASSURE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW WHERE YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS ARE KEPT.

      6. COMPLETE THE PERSONAL DATA SHEET.

ARTICLE #4 – LISTING OF RESOURCES FOR THE CHAPTER SERVICE OFFICER:
      I encourage each Chapter Service Officer to have a copy of each of these resources to assist you in the Service you provide for your chapter members, families, and non-members.

• Chapter & Field Officers Manual (F-10)             
•Service Officer Guide (FH-10)
• Chapter Service Officer Duties & Responsibilities (F-58)             
• Be Prepared for Life Events (F-100)
• Service Officers & Centers Brochure (F-107)             
• Federal Employees Almanac
• Questions & Answers from NARFE Magazine (1st Edition)             
• Questions & Answers 2004
• Understanding The Benefits of Social Security Brochure             
• Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
• Information for Annuitants (RI-20-59) CSRS             
• Information for Annuitants (RI-90-08) FERS
• Information for Survivor Annuitants (RI-25-26) CSRS             
• Medicare and You

My plans for the distribution of the next issue will be late October or early November. If you have an article please get it to me by mid October. Hope you have had a great summer. I am looking forward working with all of you.

Marion Wilson, WSFC Service Officer