Survivor Benefits 

for Children 

Civil Service Retirement 

System (CSRS) 

This pamphlet answers questions 

most frequently asked by: 

•	 Children of Deceased 

Employees and Retirees 

•	 Students and School Officials 

•	 Guardians of Disabled 

Children 
Retirement inf

You will find b

at: 

www

and 

www

You may also 

using email at

retire
General Inform

Basic Eligibilit

Survivor A

Health Benefit

Health Benefit

Children Who 

Coverag

Tempora

31-Day T

of Co

of Co

to a 

Annuity Benef

Children 

Survivor A

Child

Whe

Died

Students 

Lump-Sum Pa

For More Info
deceased Fed

benefits, as w

administered 

(OPM). 

The governm

survivor bene

employee or r

person respo

complete an A

Form 2800, an

certificate. 

As the form in

Application fo

OPM pays an

shown below. 

� To a cour

or 

� To the su

care and 

If the surviving 

benefits, both 

payment the p

OPM pays an

below. 

� To a stud

the stude

to him or 

� To disabl

handle th

� To the re

children w

affairs. 
children awar

receive. 

Basic 

F

A.	 To rece

benefit

� the c

a Fed

cred

retire

stepc

wedl

� the c

the d

is co

� 

� 

� 
In addition

born out o

proof that 

made regu

child’s sup

B.	 Annuit

child: 

� reac

� marr

� dies. 

Annuity benef

the one in wh

occurs. For ex

annuity benef

payment (ann

June 1. Note

continue to re

the military se

Annuity benef

person is inca

disability incu

student. Annu

attained age 1

unmarried and 

reaching age 

10 for more in

because the c

marriage later 

requirements 

child’s marria

copy of the di

death certifica

determine if th

When a stude

(the person w

student) is res

It is not the re
nature and da

You may notif

Information O

Monday throu

7:45 p.m. Eas

Surveys & Stu

Monday throu

5:00 p.m. Eas

U.S. Office 

Retiremen

1900 E Str

Washingto

Caution: If an 

benefits to a c

recover the am

the law provid

instances, inte

the overpaym

Hea

Children are e

coverage if: 

� the decea

in a self a

date of d

� the child 

member 

� the child 

� at least o

annuity a

employee 

OPM continue

as possible, u
again become

who lived with 

regular paren

benefits cover

child, howeve

payments.) 

Generally, hea

a child until he 

Health benefit

if the person i

a disability inc

to continue fo

eligibility for th

enough inform

permit determ

continue. Plea

the person’s c

any sooner th

birthday. Call 

or write to: 

U.S. Office 

Retiremen

P.O. Box 45

Boyers, PA 

You will be m

need a doctor

You are respo

this informatio

If the person i

attaining age 

be necessary 

To determine 

write to us ab

birthday. You 

should submi
reinstated. 

Hea

Generally, if th

survived by a 

annuity benef

withheld from 

survives, the p

payable to the 

annuity is not 

premiums, yo

the Office of P

coverage can 

C

Hea

Temporary 

Generally, a c

may qualify fo

under the Fed

Program. The 

who do not qu

temporary cov

months after t

ends. The cos

plus 2 percen

expenses. Th

toward the co

coverage end

to a 31-day ex

to convert to a 

a part of the F

group insuran

ends because 

premiums). 
of Coverage r

from you. If a 

he or she mus

the notice (or 

if later). 

Important: T

coverage end

the loss of cov

system is noti

The law requi

temporary cov

extension of c

her eligibility f

the effective d

be changed, t

months prem

31-Day Tem

Coverage a

Contract 

A child who lo

for any reason 

cancellation c

has a 31-day 

no cost, for th

that is not a p

Benefits grou

health benefit

also has the r

Coverage as e

temporary cov

has another o

is not a part o

group insuran

(other than by 

To convert the 

you or the chi

benefits plan 

ends. Many p

converted con
converted hea

child’s health 

Annui

Children In

A son or daug

of a physical o

benefits after 

18th birthday 

Requirements 

You will need 

the disabled p

determination 

continue. If th

you apply for 

information ab

before the chi

should call ou

write to:

U.S. Office 

Retiremen

P.O. Box 45

Boyers, PA 

asking to con

the child is dis

sent to you. 

If the disability 

(or within 3 m

for death ben

Death Benefits

disabled. We 

how to apply 

In either insta

You are respo

the informatio
Annuity benef

18 or older un

� recovers 

� becomes 

� marries; 

� dies. 

Notify us prom

If a son or dau

becomes cap

(or later beco

(or reinstated) 

benefits are d

believe the pe

us and the ne

to you. If a lum

disabled pers

becomes a fu

the informatio

Payments, be

benefits. 

Survivor A

Who Were 

Employee 

Disabled child

former emplo

monthly surviv

ends. 

To be eligible 

� incapable 

disability 

� unmarrie

The child mus

the disability a

annulment pa

child’s spouse
before Octobe

October 1, 19

Amount Paya

The monthly r

have received 

benefits from 

Health Benef

The child may 

Benefits Prog

family coverag

Unexpended 

If OPM has pa

payment) of th

the Civil Servi

child’s benefit 

amount of the 

Students A

A surviving ch

Requirements 

ages of 18 an

recognized ed

for a monthly 

If a person wh

on the Applica

2800, we will s

School Attend

by the person 

and by the sc

annuity benef

we notify the p

the date the a

get continued 

is a qualified s

A recognized 

that has a fac

be done at the 

organization r

of Education. 
g

� junior or 

� universiti

Student bene

in correspond

“on-line” cour

United States 

training progr

where the trai

employee. 

The student m

classes at the 

each semeste

within the leng

by the school 

students mus

them to gradu

considered no

school. 

High schools 

hours of class 

student as ful

generally requ

Colleges, juni

universities ge

semester or q

normal length 

carrying fewe

full-time. Bein

purposes doe

for adult stude

Vocational or 

students mak

This means th

clock hours e

training in the 

place at the s
programs are 

the student cr

work-study pr

Generally, coo

academic cou

receives full-ti

program and 

employee, the 

annuity. 

OPM may 

you that th

eligibility r

request at 

the schoo

Annuity benef

unless the bre

student does 

attendance. If 

for more than 

during the bre

school within 

stop at the en

plans. Eviden

into military se

the date the n

immediately if 

between scho

to continue fu

erroneously c

repaid by the 

A son or daug

student stopp

full-time stude

for benefits ag

case, please r

Call our toll-fr
Be sure to pro

annuity claim 

name of the d

(Before reque

about Lump S

Annuity benef

month before 

� turns 22 

or after S

July 1, pa

month pr

schooling 

first); 

� marries; 

� dies; 

� stops atte

� transfers 

� changes 

� enters m

academy 

� fails to su

school fu

If the student’

September 1 

and the death 

during the sam

for a monthly 

Except when 

submit proof t

notify us imm

of the events 

after one of th

the payment w

Retirement Sy

OPM has the 

court action a
fy

are eligibl

become eli

In some cases

payment” whe

survivors end 

dies leaving n

eligible for an 

consists of an

interest, if app

or retiree rem

applied for an

The lump-sum 

deceased em

beneficiary. If 

beneficiary, th

in the order se

widower, if on

children; then 

estate; and fin

If a lump-sum 

OPM receives 

benefits for an 

annuity unles

to us. 
information th

publication. If 

these booklet

1-888-767-673

7:30 a.m. and 

U.S. Office 

Retiremen

P.O. Box 45

Boyers, PA 

email at retire

www.opm.gov

Information 

Annuitants 

Information 

Employees 

Program 

OFFIC

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