ATTACHMENT 1 

TO 

BAL: FERS Credit for Certain Government Service Performed Abroad
SAMPLE COVER LETTER LANGUAGE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PERFORMED THE SERVICE 

Date 

(Application must be submitted on or before August 29, 2008) 

Department of State 

Office of Retirement HR/RET, SA-1 

2401 E Street NW 

Room H-620 

Washington, DC 20522 

To Whom It May Concern: 

I am applying to obtain service credit under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) for 

certain Government service performed abroad that is described in section 321 of Public Law 107-228. 

When I performed that service I was an employee of the Department of Commerce [the agency where 

the service was performed]. I understand that the Department of State will first review my application 

to see if my service meets the requirements for credit described in section 321 of Public Law 107-228. 

If the requirements are met, the Department of State will forward my application to the Department of 

Commerce [the agency where the service was performed] for that agency to process the deposit that I 

owe for the service. The Department of Commerce [the agency where the service was performed] will 

compute the amount of the deposit that I owe for the service and notify me of that amount. I must then 

pay that deposit, in one lump sum, to the Department of Commerce [the agency where the service was 

performed] within 6 months of being notified of the amount I owe. If the 6-month period I have to pay 

the deposit spans the end of a calendar year, I will owe additional interest on my deposit if the 

Department of Commerce [the agency where the service was performed] does not receive my payment 

before the end of the calendar year. 

I am currently employed with the Federal Government, working for the Environmental Protection 

Agency[the agency where the employee is currently working]. 

Or 

I am currently separated from the Federal Government and I am not receiving a FERS retirement 

benefit. When I last worked for the Federal Government, I worked for the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission [the agency where the applicant last worked before leaving Federal service]. I stopped 

working for that agency on or about August 1, 2001 [the date the applicant stopped working for the 

Federal Government]. I understand that once I complete payment for my Government service 

performed abroad, when I become eligible for a FERS retirement benefit, I must request a retirement 

application from the Office of Personnel Management. I understand that I cannot receive any 

retirement benefits until I have completed the appropriate retirement application and submitted it to the 

Office of Personnel Management. 

Or 

I am currently retired from the Federal Government and am receiving a FERS retirement benefit. My 

retirement claim number is CSA 9999999 [civil service claim number]. I understand that after the 

Office of Personnel Management receives documentation from the Department of Commerce [the 

agency where the service was performed] that my service is creditable under Public Law 107-228 and 

that I’ve completed the deposit, the Office of Personnel Management will recompute my retirement 
benefit retroactive to the day it started and credit this additional service. The Office of Personnel 

Management will pay me the additional annuity that is due me retroactive to the date my retirement 

began in a lump sum. 

Please contact me if you need any more information to process my application. 

Sincerely 

[Your Name and Signature] 
SAMPLE COVER LETTER LANGUAGE FROM THE SURVIVOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PERFORMED THE 

SERVICE 

Date 

(Application must be submitted on or before August 29, 2008) 

Department of State 

Office of Retirement HR/RET, SA-1 

2401 E Street NW 

Room H-620 

Washington, DC 20522 

To Whom It May Concern: 

I am the survivor of Nancy Smith who was born March 15, 1957, and whose Social Security number 

was 123-45-6789 [name, date of birth, and Social Security number of the individual who performed 

certain service performed abroad]. I am applying for FERS service credit for certain Government 

service Nancy Smith [name of person who performed the service abroad] performed abroad that is 

creditable under section 321 of Public Law 107-228. Nancy Smith [name of person who performed the 

service abroad] performed that service while working for the Department of Agriculture [name of 

agency where the service was performed]. I understand that the Department of State will first review 

my application to see if Nancy Smith’s [name of person who performed the service abroad] service 

meets the requirements for credit described in section 321 of Public Law 107-228. If the requirements 

are met, the Department of State will forward my application to the Department of Agriculture [the 

agency where the service was performed] for that agency to process the deposit that I owe for the 

service. The Department of Agriculture [the agency where the service was performed] will compute 

the amount of the deposit that I owe for the service and notify me of that amount. I must then pay that 

deposit, in one lump sum, to the Department of Agriculture [the agency where the service was 

performed] within 6 months of being notified of the amount I owe. If the 6-month period I have to pay 

the deposit spans the end of a calendar year, I will owe additional interest on my deposit if the 

Department of Agriculture [the agency where the service was performed] does not receive my 

payment before the end of the calendar year. 

I am currently receiving a survivor annuity benefit from the Office of Personnel Management based on 

Nancy Smith’s [name of person who performed the service abroad] service with the Federal 

Government. My FERS survivor benefit claim number is CSF 55555555 [provide claim number], and 

I’m attaching a recent statement I received from the Office of Personnel Management showing that I’m 

currently receiving a survivor annuity. Nancy Smith [name of person who performed the service 

abroad] last worked for the Federal Government on or about July 18, 2003, [date individual who 

performed the service last worked for the Federal Government] as an employee of the Government 

Services Administration [name of agency that last employed the person who performed the service.]. . 

Nancy Smith died on July 18, 2003 [provide date of death]. 

I understand that after the Office of Personnel Management receives documentation from the 

Department of Agriculture [name of agency where the service was performed] that the service is 

creditable under Public Law 107-228 and that I’ve completed the deposit, the Office of Personnel 

Management will recompute my survivor benefit retroactive to the day it started and credit this 
additional service. The Office of Personnel Management will pay me the additional annuity that is due 

me retroactive to the date my survivor began in a lump sum. 

Please contact me if you need any more information to process my application. 

Sincerely 

[Your Name and Signature]