Applying for Death 

Benefits Under the 

Federal Employees 

Retirement System

This pamphlet is for use by persons 

applying for benefits which may be 

payable under the Federal Employees 

Retirement System (FERS) because 

of the death of an employee, former 

employee, or retiree who was covered 

by FERS at the time of his/her death 

or separation from Federal service.
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Tuesday, November 

We provide r

Internet. You 

forms, and ot

www.opm

You may also 

email at: 

retire@op
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Tuesday, November 

Eligibility fo

the Federal 

System (FE

Benefits Paya

of a Federa

Benefits Paya

of a Forme

Benefits Paya

of a Retiree 

Applying for 
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Tuesday, November 

Type of D

The type of b

depends in pa

employee, a f

time of death

Federal servi

relationship o

determine the 

Definition

Employee 

Anyone who 

rolls at the tim

applied for di

had already s

Former Emp

Anyone who 

employment 

yet qualified 

Retiree 

Anyone who 

agency’s emp

requirements 

filed an appli

An individua

retirement wh

service, but p

avoid an age 

applied for re

month after d

are those bas
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Tuesday, November 

Basic Emp

(BEDB): 

To a Spouse 

If the employ

of creditable 

spouse who: 

• was marr

of at leas

requirem

accidenta

• was the p

(includin

born afte

died], or 

married)

the spouse m

is equal to 50

(average sala

by Civil Serv

cost-of-living 

To a Former 

This benefit m

(in whole or 

on file at the 

(OPM) and th

deceased for 

and did not re

Survivor A

To a Spouse 

If an employ

creditable ser

civilian servi
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Tuesday, November 

• was the p

(includin

born afte

died], or 

married)

the spouse m

benefit.

To a Former 

This benefit m

former spous

at the Office 

To a Child ­

If an employ

creditable civ

• unmarrie

and/or

• unmarrie

age 22 if 

institutio

• unmarrie

(certified 

Adminis

before ag

a basic child’

The combine

reduced by th

benefits that 

application, b

Security Act 

the deceased 

who may not 

based on the 

many cases, t

System (FER
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Tuesday, November 

credit in the C

Disability Fu

payable. 

Payees for L

If a lump sum 

first person e

precedence: 

• beneficia

writing w

is receive

(or the O

(OPM) if 

separated 

none, the

• spouse o

• children 

deceased 

• parents o

• executor 

person’s 

• next of k

the laws 

domicile
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Tuesday, November 

Survivor A

To a Spouse 

If a former em

years of cred

be creditable 

spouse who w

time of his/he

service and w

• was marr

period of 

month re

was acci

• was the p

(includin

born afte

died], or 

later mar

the spouse m

benefit. The b

deceased form

eligible for an 

survivor choo

the day after 

employee wo

unreduced an

years of cred

of service, at 

service, or at 

(MRA) accor

30 years of se
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Tuesday, November 

19

19

19

19

19

1953 to 

19

19

19

19

19

After 

Instead of a s

can elect to r

contributions 

credit in the r

To a Former 

This benefit m

former spous

at the Office 
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Tuesday, November 

Retirement a

interest, are p

Payees for L

If a lump sum 

first person e

precedence:

• beneficia

writing w

is receive

the Offic

if the dec

employe

• spouse o

• children 

deceased 

• parents o

• executor 

person’s 

• next of k

the laws 

domicile
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Tuesday, November 

Survivor A

To a Spouse

If a retiree di

provide a sur

• his/her su

or 

• a person 

him/her, 

• a spouse 

• if a quali

Office of 

awarded 

a monthly su

To a Child: 

If a retiree is 

• unmarrie

and/or

• unmarrie

age 22 at

time, and

• unmarrie

(certified 

Adminis

before ag

a basic child’

The combine

reduced by th

benefits that 

application, b

Security Act 

the deceased 
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Tuesday, November 

Lump Sum 

If a retiree di

the annuity d

death, may b

is payable, th

contributions 

credit in the C

Disability Fu

also be payab

Payees for L

If a lump sum 

first person e

precedence:

• beneficia

writing w

is receive

the Offic

if the dec

employe

• spouse o

• children 

deceased 

• parents o

• executor 

person’s 

• next of k

laws in th

domicile
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Tuesday, November 

Application f

instructions f

on the form i

also complete 

If the deceas

death ­

If you are the 

Supplement, 

3104. Instruc

contained on 

If the deceas

death ­

If you are the 

you and the d

should comp

Support of Ap

Deceased wa

SF 3104B, w

deceased per

Instructions f

contained on 

Submitting C

If the decease

death, submit 

requested atta

the agency w

If the decease

retiree, send 

U.S. Off

Federal E

P.O. Box 

Boyers, P
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Tuesday, November 

by Direct De

transfer of yo

or savings ac

If you do not 

to have your 

your bank ac

Express debi

be automatic

card on the p

You cannot r

payments or 

payments by 

debit card pro

address is ou

where these p

Complete Se

Benefits, SF 3

receive paym

Direct Depos

If you change 

you can call O

Service Spec

Friday, from 

If you use TT

If you prefer, 

Sign-Up Form

U.S. Off

Retireme

P.O. Box 

Boyers, P

Both you and 

form. The for

724-794-663
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Tuesday, November 

Once you beg

you will be a

Services Onl

www.services

begin, you w

system. 

Even though 

deposit or a D

continue to re

mailing addre

Changing M

Changes Bef

If your addre

claim numbe

Management 

birth, your So

deceased per

Security Num

number, you 

us to report y

claim numbe

OPM at 1-88

Specialists ar

from 7:30 a.m

not available 

equipment, c

write, you sh

U.S. Off

ATTN: C

P.O. Box 

Boyers, P

In addition, y

of your forwa
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Tuesday, November 

pay a direct t

payments to 

the payment 

rollover are:

1.	 The Basi

whether 

ments. 

2.	 Employe

deductio

any inter

3.	 Alternati

were not 

The taxable p

are not rolled 

Arrangement 

subject to a m

20 percent. 

If you are a s

receive one o

make the elec

application, o

your applicat

Management 

about your el

we compute t

due to receiv

The Internal 

additional inf

Tax Guide to 

Benefits, IRS 
SF 3114

Revised May 2013

Previous editions are not usable

United State

Office f Per nnel Manage ent

Retirement Services

1900 E Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20415

www.opm.gov/retirement-services