United States Office of Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 22-103 Date: October 7, 2022

Subject: Updates to the Data Exchange Gateway 

(DEG) and DEG Data Set Starter Kit

This Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) supersedes BAL 14-105 and 

provides additional updates to the Data Exchange Gateway (DEG) and issues

the revised DEG Data Set Starter Kit.

Background

The Data Exchange Gateway (DEG) is a method for agencies, payroll offices, 

and shared service centers to electronically transmit data to Retirement 

Services (RS). In 1994, OPM’s Retirement Operations (RO) launched the 

Automated Front End Program (AFEP) to enhance the service RS delivers to 

retiring federal employees. Through this program, RS works in partnership 

with agencies, payroll offices, and shared service centers to make the 

transition from employee to retiree as seamless as possible. 

Through the AFEP, agencies, payroll offices, and share service centers 

submit data via the DEG that is used by RO to automatically load OPM’s 

financial system and annuity roll system with the necessary financial and 

retirement-related data. AFEP automatically establishes the retirement 

record and initiates its tracking. For retirees, the AFEP establishes the 

retirement claim, generates the annuitant identification card, transfers the 

health benefits administration to RO, and authorizes interim annuity 

payments for entitled claimants.
Benefits Administration Letter 22-103

2 

What’s New 

The DEG data set record size has increased to 500. The below charts outline 

updates to existing DEG data fields and the creation of new DEG data fields 

in response to the recent IRS changes to the W-4P form and withholding 

rates for annuities starting in 2022. 

Updates to existing data fields:

Data Element Name Position Number Information

Tax Marital Status 

Code

233 Added code “H” = Head of 

Household

Tax Exemptions 

Claimed

234 – 235 This data field has changed from 

Required (R) to Optional (O)

Additional W-4P Tax Withholding Data:

Data Element Name Position Number Information

Total Other Income 312 – 317 This field is used for Step 2(b)(iii) of 

the W-4P form starting in 2022 and 

allows up to six (6) digits. Number 

is entered as a whole dollar amount. 

If there is no entry for this position, 

then enter zero (0). 

Dependent Amount 318 – 323 This field is used for Step 3 of the 

W-4P form starting in 2022 and 

allows up to six (6) digits. Number 

is entered as a whole dollar amount. 

If there is no entry for this position, 

then enter zero (0). 

Other Income (Not 

From Jobs)

324 – 329 This field is used for Step 4(a) of the 

W-4P form starting in 2022 and 

allows up to six (6) digits. Number 

is entered as a whole dollar amount. 

If there is no entry for this position, 

then enter zero (0). 

Deduction Amount 330 – 335 This field is used for Step 4(b) of 

the W-4P form starting in 2022 and 

allows up to six (6) digits. Number 

is entered as a whole dollar amount. 

If there is no entry for this position, 

then enter zero (0). 
Benefits Administration Letter 22-103

3 

Data Element Name Position Number Information

Extra Withholding 336 – 339 This field is used for Step 4(c) of the 

W-4P form starting in 2022 and 

allows up to four (4) digits. Number 

is entered as a whole dollar amount. 

If there is no entry for this position, 

then enter zero (0). 

Filler Positions 340 – 500 

Final Note

All hard copy registers and records must be sent to OPM the same day the 

electronic DEG data set is transmitted to OPM. If they are not, the 

processing of retirement claims (including the authorization of the initial 

interim payment) may be delayed.

For questions related to this BAL, please contact the Benefits Officers 

Development & Outreach group at benefits@opm.gov or (202) 606-0788. 

Sincerely,

Margaret Pearson

Associate Director

Retirement Services

Encl.:

1. DEG Data Set Starter Kit (revised September 2022)