I’d like to talk about an exciting new option available to you as an OPM annuitant or survivor. OPM has instituted the electronic delivery of several of our mailings. These mailings include:
• Annual mailer
• IRS 1099R
• Informational alerts
This new service will allow you to receive retirement information quicker than in a hard copy format. However, in order to receive these mailings electronically OPM must have your current email address on file.
To take advantage of receiving this information electronically, you can “opt-in” using the Services Online (SOL) webpage which is accessible at www.servicesonline.opm.gov. If you are unable to access your SOL account because you do not have a password, go to www.servicesonline.opm.gov and select the “Forgot Password” link. Once you receive your password and have access to SOL, you can elect to receive mailers electronically.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for helping to reduce the cost of printing and mailing by using SOL. Over the past year, more than 3.2 million transactions were processed through SOL. This is a 70% increase of SOL usage! While the increase in use is great, you can do even more. Last year almost 50% of the calls made to the call center were for changes that could have been made online using SOL. With so many transactions available, you can manage your retirement account whenever it is convenient for you; and by completing the SOL survey you provide us with valuable information that helps us to improve the services we provide. Continue to help OPM save money and reduce our environmental impact by reminding your fellow retirees to update their email address.
You can find a great deal of retirement information online at www.opm.gov/retire, you can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fedretireinfo and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/USOPM.
OPM will continue to keep your transactions on SOL secure and easy for you to access as we move toward a modern and responsive system that meets your needs now and in the future.