What You 

Your Fam

Need to K

About Your B

Re

Previous ed

Work-Rel

Injuries and F
Additional retirement information and all publications of the U.S. Office of

Personnel Management listed in this pamphlet are available on the Internet.

OPM website — http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/botdg/index.asp
Introduction .............................

Workers’ Compensation Benefits ..................

Retirement Benefits .........................

Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) ..............

Disability Benefits ........................

Death Benefits ..........................

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)...........

Disability Benefits ........................

Death Benefits ..........................

Insurance Benefits ..........................

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) .........

Accidental Dismemberment....................

Thrift Savings Plan..........................

Unpaid Compensation ........................

Social Security Benefits .......................

Disability Benefits ........................

Survivor Benefits .........................

Lump-Sum Death Payment ....................

Death Gratuity Payment under Public Law 104-208 ........

Public Safety Officers’ Benefits ...................

Additional Information ........................

i 
may be eligible to receive. The following information is an overvie

the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. More detailed informati

of payment is available from the agency administering each progra

and their survivors should seek more detailed information from th

agency. Employing agencies also have any necessary forms and ca

assistance in completing them. 

Workers’ Compensation Benefits 

Workers’ compensation benefits are available to you or your famil

injured or killed on the job. Compensation benefits are administere

Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. 

medical costs are covered in full. Wage loss benefits are paid if the 

in disability. If the disability is total, compensation is paid at two-

monthly pay. If you are married or have one or more dependents, c

paid at three-fourths of the pay rate. Dependents may include a sp

and parents. 

The Department of Labor also may pay you a scheduled award for 

impairment to certain members or functions of the body (such as l

eye or arm, or loss of function or removal of a kidney due to injury

payable are specified by the Federal Employees Compensation Act. 

additional award for serious disfigurement of the head, face, or ne

If you were to die, your surviving spouse and dependents may qua

compensation benefits. (However, your surviving spouse must be l

dependent for support on you at the time of your death or living a

reasonable cause or because of your desertion.) If no children are 

surviving spouse would receive 50 percent of your salary. If there 

your surviving spouse would receive 45 percent of your salary plu

15 percent for each child up to a total of 75 percent of your salary

compensation benefits will be reduced if you were covered under t

Employees Retirement System and your survivors are eligible for S

benefits based on your Federal employment. 

Funeral and burial expenses up to a maximum of $800 may be pa

a sum of $200 may be paid to a personal representative of your ch

reimbursement of the costs of termination of your status as a Fede

1 
Federal retirement benefits are not payable for the same period of 

you or your survivors must choose between the two benefits. In m

primary benefits will be paid by the Department of Labor. The U.S

Personnel Management (OPM), which administers both the Civil Se

Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System

coordinate with Department of Labor. 

Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) 

Disability Benefits 

Disability retirement benefits are payable to you if you are unable 

useful and efficient service in your position because of disease or 

you would not be considered disabled if you decline your agency’s 

position which accommodates your disability, is at the same grade 

and is within your commuting area. To qualify, the disabling cond

expected to last at least 1 year, and you must have completed 5 ye

civilian service and have been covered under CSRS when disabled. 

annuity payable depends on the amount of Federal service you hav

salary level. There is also a guaranteed minimum benefit. If you q

disability retirement and regular compensation benefits, generally 

allowed to choose the higher compensation benefit over disability 

your agency separates you, you should apply for disability retirem

your and your survivor’s future annuity rights. Disability retireme

suspended while you are receiving compensation benefits but can 

should the compensation benefit stop or drop below the amount o

benefit. The exception is if you are entitled to a scheduled award, 

paid at the same time disability benefits are paid. 

If you are also covered by Social Security as a Civil Service Retirem

(CSRS) Offset employee, your disability benefit would be offset by 

Social Security benefit which is based on your CSRS Offset service

apply for Social Security disability benefits if you are a CSRS Offse

2 
from CSRS, the two benefits are not payable for the same period o

your survivor must elect which of the two benefits he or she wishe

Most survivors will choose compensation benefits instead of a sur

because compensation normally pays a higher amount. If they elec

benefits, they may also elect to receive a lump sum payment of yo

to the retirement fund. The lump sum is paid under a statutory ord

precedence: first, to the designated beneficiary; if none designated

surviving spouse; if none, to the child or children and descendants 

children, by representation; if none, to any surviving parents; if no

appointed executor or administrator of the estate; if none, to the n

Retirement benefits are payable under certain circumstances wher

benefits are not payable. For instance, retirement benefits may be 

former spouse if a court order awarded them, but compensation be

payable to a former spouse. In addition, if a widow or widower rem

age 55 and this marriage ends, the retirement benefit may be reins

the survivor has not received a refund of your retirement contribut

contrast, the compensation benefit may not be reinstated. Also, if 

disabled because of a job-related illness or injury, but die of unrela

your survivors would not be eligible for compensation benefits, bu

eligible for CSRS survivor benefits. 

If you are single and have no dependent children or former spouse 

benefits, there would be no monthly survivor annuity benefit paya

case, a lump sum of your retirement contributions would be paid t

survivors under the order of precedence described above. 

Survivor benefits of CSRS Offset employees may be subject to an o

the value of the offset service in the Social Security survivor benef

only applies if the survivor is eligible for Social Security benefits b

employment. 

For more information about CSRS disability and survivor benefits, 

Retirement Under the Civil Service Retirement System (RI 83-4) an

Benefits Under the Civil Service Retirement System (RI 83-5). Infor

how to obtain these pamphlets is at the end of this booklet. 

3 
The eligibility requirements for FERS Disability Benefits are simila

under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). However, you w

18 months of Federal civilian service instead of 5 years. FERS disa

may also qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits if they are 

in any substantial gainful activity. FERS Disability Benefits are of

also eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits. Therefore, you 

Social Security benefits at the same time you file an application fo

Disability Benefits. The rules concerning the concurrent receipt of 

benefits and disability retirement benefits are the same as the rule

employees. 

Death Benefits 

If you were married and worked for the Federal Government for at 

months, your surviving spouse may receive a lump sum payment. 

payment (which is called the Basic Employee Death Benefit) is an 

to one half of your annual pay rate at death or one half of your hig

pay, plus $28,093.53 in 2008. If you had 10 years of Federal servi

surviving spouse may also qualify for a monthly survivor benefit. 

If you die after completing 18 months of civil service, your depend

may also receive a survivor annuity benefit if they are not receivin

Security benefits. 

Like you, survivors must choose between death compensation ben

Department of Labor and FERS survivor benefits. If they elect work

compensation death benefits, they may also elect to receive a lump 

retirement contributions plus interest. The CSRS order of preceden

under FERS law. The FERS monthly survivor annuity and the basi

death benefit are not payable if compensation is elected. 

For more information about FERS read the pamphlet RI 90-1, FERS 

of Your Benefits). 

4 
Compensation Programs. Life insurance coverage and coverage for 

are also available to enrollees and their survivors. Both the Federa

Health Benefits Program and the Federal Employees’ Group Life In

Program are administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Managem

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (F

Most Federal employees, unless they waive coverage, have Basic L

under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program. Basic 

is equal to your actual rate of annual basic pay (rounded to the ne

$2,000, or $10,000, whichever is greater. In addition, there is an E

employees under age 45: Double life insurance benefits until age 

at 10 percent per year until age 45, at which time the extra covera

Basic Life Insurance also includes Accidental Death and Dismembe

coverage. Accidental death benefits are equal to the amount of the 

Insurance Amount but without the Extra Benefit. Some employees 

optional insurance coverage. Optional coverage for employees may 

(Option A — Standard, which doubles in case of accidental death)

5 multiples of pay (Option B — Additional). Option C — Family ins

employee’s family members and pays the employee upon the death 

eligible child. Employees may elect 1-5 multiples of the coverage a

for a spouse; $2,500 per child). 

Life insurance benefits are paid under a statutory order of precede

the designated beneficiary; if none designated, to the surviving sp

to the child or children and descendants of deceased children, by r

if none, to any surviving parents; if none, to the duly appointed ex

administrator of the estate; if none, to the next of kin. A certified c

file in the appropriate office will preempt the statutory order of pre

Accidental Dismemberment 

If you are covered by Federal life insurance and, because of an acc

to lose a limb or your eyesight, in one or both eyes, you may be eli

Accidental Dismemberment benefits. These benefits are available u

Insurance and Option A. 

5 
Thrift Savings Plan 

If you die as an employee and had a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) acco

beneficiaries would be entitled to your entire account balance. The 

be distributed according to your Designation of Beneficiary if you 

one. If you did not complete a Designation of Beneficiary, your acc

distributed according to the statutory order of precedence: to your 

spouse; if none, to your child or children and descendants of decea

by representation; if none, to any surviving parents; if none, to the 

appointed executor or administrator of the estate; if none, to the n

To postpone paying Federal income tax, your surviving spouse ma

transfer or “roll over” all or any part of the payment to an Individu

Arrangement. If your surviving spouse does so, no Federal income 

paid on the funds until withdrawal from the Individual Retiremen

A surviving spouse who receives the payment directly may roll all 

the payment over into an Individual Retirement Arrangement with

However, if the payment is made directly to your spouse, the TSP m

20% for Federal income tax. If the TSP transfers the payment direc

Individual Retirement Arrangement, there is no Federal income tax 

The Thrift Savings Plan is administered by the Federal Retirement 

Investment Board (Board). For more information about death bene

and tax consequences, ask your employing agency representative 

the notice, “Important Tax Information About Thrift Savings Plan 

Payments”. The tax advantages of a rollover are not available to y

your parents, or your estate. 

Unpaid Compensation 

If you die in service, your survivors will receive a lump sum payme

your final pay and unused annual leave. The lump sum is paid by 

under the same order of precedence as the other payments describ

6 
If you worked under Social Security, you may be entitled to disabi

from Social Security, provided you have worked long enough unde

Security to qualify for benefits. The amount of covered employmen

depends upon your age. Also, some of the covered employment mu

although there are exceptions. Disability under Social Security me

severely disabled you cannot perform any substantial gainful work

disability is expected to last at least 1 year or to result in death. B

begin until after a 5-month waiting period. If you qualify for disab

the amount of the benefit is computed based on your earnings und

Security with no reduction for early retirement. The Social Security 

reduced if you are also receiving a benefit based on employment co

Civil Service Retirement System. 

If you are also receiving workers’ compensation, the disability ben

reduced. The total of all disability benefits (Social Security, worke

compensation, and benefits under the Civil Service Retirement Sys

Employees Retirement System) may not exceed 80 percent of your 

the disability began. 

Survivor Benefits 

Social Security will pay survivor benefits to your surviving spouse 

children. For your spouse to qualify for benefits, he or she must be 

between the ages of 50 and 59 and disabled, or any age and caring 

under age 16 or a disabled child. Children may qualify for benefits 

under age 18 (or under age 19, if in high school) or disabled. Depe

and former spouses may also qualify for survivor benefits. The am

benefit depends upon your Social Security earnings and the numb

eligible for benefits. The Social Security spousal benefit may be re

survivor is eligible for benefits based on his or her own employme

not covered by Social Security, such as employment under the Civi

Retirement System. 

Lump-Sum Death Payment 

A lump sum of $255 is payable to your surviving spouse provided 

together at the time of your death or he/she is entitled to survivor 

there is no surviving spouse, the lump sum is paid to children who 

benefits. Otherwise, the lump sum is not payable. 

Social Security benefits are administered by the Social Security Ad

To file a claim for Social Security benefits, you or your survivors s

Social Security District Office, and that office will initiate the claim

7 
to questions and to set up appointments with a District Office, call 800-772-1213

between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Eastern Time.

Death Gratuity Payment Under Public Law 104-208

At the discretion of the head of the department or agency, the personal

representative of any Federal employee who dies from an injury sustained in the

line of duty may be paid a death gratuity of up to $10,000. While the payment is

discretionary, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management encourages all

department and agency heads to make full use of this authority. The payment

may be made in cases in which the injury occurred on or after August 2, 1990.

The gratuity, when combined with certain other payments, may not exceed

$10,000. The other payments which must be considered are: 1) the up to $800

payable by the Department of Labor to a surviving spouse or children for funeral

expenses of a Federal employee who died as a result of injuries sustained in the

line of duty; 2) the $200 payable by the Department of Labor for reimbursement

of the costs of termination of the deceased employee’s status as a Federal

employee; and 3) any amount paid under Public Law 103-332 to the

representative of any employee of any department or agency with appropriations

from a Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act who is

killed in the line of duty.

Public Safety Officers’ Benefits

The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act of 1976, as amended, authorizes the

Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, to pay a benefit to

specified survivors of public safety officers found to have died as the direct and

proximate result of a personal injury, traumatic injury involving external force

sustained in the line of duty, and to claimant public safety officers found to have

been permanently and totally disabled as the direct result of a catastrophic injury

sustained in the line of duty. Information on the benefits and how to apply can be

found on the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance website:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/psob/psob_death.html.

A public safety officer is defined to be any individual serving a public agency in

an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer,

police, corrections, probation, parole and judicial officer, firefighter, rescue squad

member or ambulance crew member. A public agency means an agency of the

United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and

8
of a deceased public safety officer. Onehalf of the benefit would b

spouse, and one-half of the benefit would be paid, in equal amoun

eligible children. Eligible children are defined as children 18 years 

younger, children 19 through 22 years of age who are full-time stu

children 19 years of age or over and incapable of self support beca

physical or mental disability. 

The death benefit will be paid to the deceased public safety officer

surviving spouse or children are eligible for the benefit. If the publ

is not survived by any eligible spouse, children, or parents, no ben

paid. 

The death benefit is payable to a qualified survivor of a Federal em

addition to death benefits payable to the survivor from the Civil Se

Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, an

Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program under subchapt

81 of title 5, United States Code. 

Public safety officers found to have been permanently and totally 

direct result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty a

to the payment if they are permanently unable to perform any gai

employment. 

More information concerning the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits P

obtained by contacting the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the foll

Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program 

Bureau of Justice Assistance 

633 Indiana Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20531-0001 

9 
Additional Information

You may obtain copies of the pamphlets listed below from your personnel office or

from OPM’s website (http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/botdg/index.asp).

Pamphlets applicable to employees in both the Civil Service Retirement System

(CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are:

• Court-Ordered Benefits for Former Spouses (RI 84-1)

• Life Events and Your Retirement and Insurance Benefits (For Employees)

(RI 84-3)

• Thinking About Retirement? (RI 83-11)

The pamphlets in the CSRS Retirement Facts Series:

• Retirement Facts #1 - The Civil Service Retirement System (RI 83-1)

• Retirement Facts #2 - Military Service Credit Under the Civil Service

Retirement System (RI 83-2)

• Retirement Facts #3 - Deposits and Redeposits Under the Civil Service

Retirement System (RI 83-3)

• Retirement Facts #4 - Disability Retirement Under the Civil Service

Retirement System (RI 83-4)

• Retirement Facts #5 - Survivor Benefits Under the Civil Service Retirement

System (RI 83-5)

• Retirement Facts #6 - Early Retirement Under the Civil Service Retirement

System (RI 83-6)

• Retirement Facts #7 - Computing Retirement Benefits Under the Civil Service

Retirement System (RI 83-7)

• Retirement Facts #8 - Credit for Unused Sick Leave Under the Civil Service

Retirement System (RI 83-8)

• Retirement Facts #9 - Refunds Under the Civil Service Retirement System

(RI 83-9)

10
System Employees Who Are Not Eligible for an Immediate Annu

• Retirement Facts #12 - Information About Reemployment for 

Retirement System Annuitants (RI 83-18) 

• Retirement Facts #13 - Civil Service Retirement System Offset 

Provisions (RI 83-19) 

• Retirement Facts #14 - Law Enforcement and Firefighter Civil 

Retirement System Retirement (RI 83-20) 

Publications for employees who are under the Federal Employees R

System (FERS) are: 

• FERS Brochure (An Overview of Your Benefits) (RI 90-1) 

• FERS Facts #1 - Information for Separating FERS Employees W

Eligible for an Immediate Annuity (RI 90-11) 

• FERS Facts #2 - Information About Reemployment for FERS A

(RI 90-18) 

For employees who are eligible to transfer to the Federal Employee

System 

• FERS Transfer Handbook (A Guide to Making Your Decision) (R

Pamphlets on the Federal Health and Life Insurance Programs are

• Federal Employees Health Benefits Guide (RI 70-1) 

• Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) under the Federal Em

Benefits Program (RI 79-27) 

• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Booklet (RI 76-21) 

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United States Office of Personnel Management


1900 E Street, NW


Washington, DC 20415


www.opm.gov/Forms