2006 FIFTEEN REASONS TO CALL OR WRITE OPM TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY!

APWU OF FLORIDA STATE RETIREE CHAPTER

15 REASONS TO CALL OR WRITE OPM TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY! (LINK I)

You may phone the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) toll-free at 1-888-767-6738, between the hours of 7:30 am-7:45 pm (EST) from Monday thru Friday, to speak to a real live person. The best time to call is early of the morning or late in the evening. The OPM automated phone system using this toll free number also seems to work well most of the time during other hours, days, and holidays.

You may write to OPM at the below addresses:

CSRS Employees:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management,
Retirement Operations Center,
P.O. Box 45,

Boyers, Pa. 16017

FERS Employees:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management,
Retirement Operations Center,
P.O. Box 200,
Boyers, Pa. 16017

In the following specific situations where you need help or information, call or write to OPM:

1. To report a regular monthly payment was lost or not received. First contact your post office/bank to see if delivery might have been delayed. If the payment has not been received by the fifth business day after the expected payment date, call or write OPM. You must sign the letter notifying OPM of the non-receipt of an annuity payment.

2. To obtain federal tax election forms to change income tax withheld form annuity payments.

3. General inquiries about health benefits. Enrollees are notified annually of the health benefit options before each Open Season.

4. A dispute over a health benefits claim with your health benefits carrier which you want OPM to review.

5. General inquiries about federal tax withholding.

6. Inquiries about a garnishment of annuity for alimony or child support, apportionment of an annuity awarded by a court and court-ordered survivor benefits.

7. To respond to an OPM Disability Earnings Survey or Marital Status Survey.

8. To submit Certification of Continued Entitlement to Adult Student Benefits, or to inquire about such benefits.

9. To send payments for deposits, re-deposits, and overpayments (debts). You should include your claim number, the number of your check, and enclose the OPM statement associated with your payments.

10. To report a change of mailing address. You must notify OPM about any change of address, even if your annuity payments are sent directly to a bank. OPM needs your mailing address to send important information (such as FEHBP Open Season packages) to you. You must sign the correspondence.

11. To have monthly annuity payments sent to a bank by “direct deposit.” You can ask your bank to complete the Standard Form and send it to OPM. You can also make these changes by calling if you can provide all the information requested on the Standard Form.

12. To report the death of a retiree or survivor. Include the deceased’s full name, claim number, date of birth, date of death, and Social Security number, if known. To apply for death benefits, survivors should request an Application for Death Benefits. If the deceased had FEGLI coverage, survivors should request a Life Insurance Claim for Death Benefits form.

13. To obtain information about retirement or life insurance designations of beneficiary, and to request or file designation forms. You should furnish your claim number, date of birth, and Social Security number. You must sign the request for such information from your file.

14. To report changes in Social Security benefits for FERS disability and survivor benefits.

15. To report changes in the status of Workers’ Compensation benefits.