Post-Retirement

You can request to cancel or reduce your survivor benefit election within 30 days from the date of your first regular monthly annuity payment. Your first regular monthly annuity payment is the first annuity check payable to you on a recurring basis (not interim payment[s] or an adjustment payment) after we have determined the regular rate of annuity payable to you under the Retirement System and have paid you any annuity you have accrued from the time you retired until OPM has issued you your first regular monthly payment.

In order to cancel or reduce your survivor benefit election you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF) 2801-2 (CSRS Retiree) or a SF 3107-2 (FERS Retiree). The SF 2801-2 or SF 3107-2 must be completed by the retiring employee, the retiring employee’s current spouse and a notary public (or other person authorized to administer oaths.

If it is more than 30 days from the date of your first regular monthly annuity payment, you cannot cancel the survivor annuity benefit you elected at retirement.

If the 30-day period has passed, but you are still within 18 months after the date of your retirement you may submit a written request to change your survivor annuity election, but you may only make the following changes:

• You may elect a survivor annuity; or
• You can increase the amount of the survivor annuity elected

The survivor annuity election that you make retirement is irrevocable and cannot be changed after the periods described above have elapsed.

You should also be aware that if you are cancelling or reducing your survivor benefit election, OPM may owe you a refund of any amount reflecting the changes between the original and new survivor election. Additionally, if increasing your survivor annuity election, you may pay a one-time payment representing the difference between the old and new election amounts.

You must request changes to the survivor annuity election you made at retirement in writing and must send this request to the following address:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Operations Center
Post Office Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017

Please note: Your written election should include your claim number, the amount of your new survivor election, as well as your spouse's name, social security number, date of birth, and a copy of your marriage certificate.