Applying for 


Death Benefits 


Under the 


Civil Service


Retirement


System


This pamphlet contains 

information for persons 

applying for benefits 

under the Civil Service 

Retirement System 

(CSRS) because of the 

death of an employee, 

former employee, or 

retiree who was covered 

by CSRS. 

SF 2800-1


Revised August 2013

Previous editions are not usable
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Death Benef

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Benefits Pay

of a Civil S

Benefits Pay

of a Retire

Benefits Pay

of a Forme

Applying for 

What Happe

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Having Surv

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Changing Yo

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State Income 

How to Cont
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Two types o

the Civil Ser

� Monthly 

� Lump-su

The type of b

on whether t

former empl

death. 

Definition

Employee 

Anyone who 

employment 

if he or she h

and his/her p

Retiree 

Anyone sepa

rolls and wh

retirement (i

for retiremen

Former Em

Anyone no l

rolls at the ti

qualified and 
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Survivor A

To a Spouse 

If an employ

of creditable 

spouse who: 

� was mar

period o

month re

death wa

� was the 

applican

born pos

parties la

the spouse m

survivor ben

To a Forme

If an employ

creditable ci

in whole or i

married to th

nine months 

survivor ann

To a Child 

If an employ

creditable ci

� unmarrie

AND/OR

� unmarrie

to age 22 

educatio
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a child’s surv

Children ove

because of m

before age 1

died may be 

marriage end

Lump-Sum 

If an employ

payable base

contribution

credit in the 

Disability Fu

Payees for L

If a lump-sum 

first person e

precedence: 

� beneficia

deceased

the U.S. 

prior to d

� spouse o

� children 

deceased 

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� court-ap

the dece

then to 

next-of-kin o

laws in the d
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Tuesday, July 02, 

To a Spouse

Interest:

If a retiree d

survivor ann

� his/her s

spouse, o

� a person 

him/her, 

� a spouse 

� if a qual

U.S. Off

has awar

a former 

a monthly su

To a Child 

If a retiree is 

� unmarrie

AND/OR

� unmarrie

to age 22 

full-time

� unmarrie

incapabl

or physi

a child’s surv

Children ove

because of a 

incurred befo

retiree died m

if their marri
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Tuesday, July 02, 

, y 

payable, any 

to the deceas

Service Reti

also be paya

Payees for L

If a lump-sum 

first person e

precedence: 

� beneficia

deceased

the U.S. 

prior to d

� spouse o

� children 

deceased 

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� court-ap

the dece

then to 

� next-of-k

laws in t

domicile
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Tuesday, July 02, 

If a former e

contribution

person’s cred

and Disabilit

Payees for L

The lump-su

person eligib

precedence: 

� beneficia

deceased

the U.S. 

prior to d

� spouse o

� children 

deceased 

� parents o

� court-ap

the dece

then to 

� next-of-k

laws in t

domicile
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Tuesday, July 02, 

Benefits. Spe

SF 2800 are 

copies, photo

situations, yo

additional fo

If the decea

of death

If you are th

you and the 

agency shou

Certification 

be obtained 

employing a

SF 2800A ar

If the decea

death

All applican

form the Off

provides for 

Submitting 

If the deceas

of death, sub

with a copy 

attachments, 

agency wher

If the deceas

retiree, send 

copy of the d

U.S. O

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Tuesday, July 02, 

of death

After the per

action, your 

the payroll o

the Office o

your applica

performed b

survivor ann

and will proc

possible afte

information 

If the decea

OPM will st

assign a CSF 

receiving the 

the needed a

will process 

possible afte

received. 

After your a

If you are eli

will send you 

annuity rate 

Generally, th

premiums an

If we are pay

a statement t

authorized.

Payments

The Departm

payments. T

you may com

Regular mon

are due the f
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� Havin

Payme

or Fin

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federal bene

can be made 

or savings ac

debit card pr

Treasury. To 

program, con

or OPM. To 

www.godirec

electronicall

you do not h

contact the D

1-800-333-1

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does not app

address is ou

not accessibl

Direct Depo

It eliminates 

other financi

check. You n

check being 

assured paym

your use, eve

If you live w

recommend 

have not alre

When you el

continue to r

mailing addr

Application f

payments se
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� Chang

If you want t

before you r

the Office of 

your name, d

Number, and 

of birth and 

received you

as explained 

your claim n

us. 

� Federa

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administered 

(IRS). For a 

tax on surviv

721, “Tax G

Retirement B

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If you do no

could be sub

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payments. U

will withhold 

survivor ann

married pers

allowances. 

when we hav

You can star

withholding 

on pages 11 
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action, conta

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If you are lo

your survivo

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questions, a

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have a quest

retire@opm.

address. 

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perform seve

24 hours a d

www.service

password to 

have a passw

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make variou

payments (ta

specific info

payments. 
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pp

questions, ca

Office toll-fr

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through Frid

Eastern time

holidays. If y

1-855-887-4

When you ca

name and da

employee or 

the proper re

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If you prefer

following ad

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Please remem

on all corres

records. 
OFFICE 

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