2021 Disability Earnings Survey

Retirement Services, Retirement Surveys and Students (RSS) officially began its 2021 Disability Earnings Survey (DES) in Services Online as of February 15, 2022. RSS is surveying a population of 50,784 disability annuitants under age 60. RSS will analyze the annuitant’s responses to determine if they are eligible to continue receiving retirement benefits. We will also verify if they have earned over the 80% earnings limit during any employment in the 2021 tax year after they began receiving benefits. When this limit is met or exceeded, the annuitant is considered restored to earnings capacity and his or her benefits will cease as of June 30, 2022.

All disability annuitants under age 60 (excluding appointed representative payees, guardians, conservators, and organizational payees) were sent notifications via mail or email. The notifications announced the opening of the survey through Services Online along with further instructions on how to complete the survey:

• On Saturday, January 15, 2022, all members of the survey population who did not have an appointed representative payee, guardian, or conservator, and who did not have an active Services Online account were sent notification by mail.
• Email notification was sent Monday, January 24, 2022, to all members of the survey population that had an active Services Online Account.

Both notifications provided additional Services Online survey completion instructions. The 2021 DES is available within Services Online on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Annuitants will have the opportunity to submit their reported earnings through Services Online from February 15, 2022, through June 30, 2022. We ask that all annuitants complete the survey, regardless of whether they had earned income in 2021.

All disability annuitants who have appointed representative payees, organizational payees, or court appointed guardians or conservators will be mailed a paper survey no later than March 1, 2022.

Annuitants are encouraged to call the Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 (Mon – Fri, 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET) for any inquiries regarding the 2021 Disability Earnings Survey.

2021 FERS Annuity Supplement Earnings Survey

Retirement Services, Retirement Surveys and Students (RSS) began mailing 95,406 Annuity Supplement Earnings Surveys (Retirement Services Internal Form [RI] 92-22) on April 29, 2022. This survey form was mailed to our retirement population of non-disability annuitants between the ages of 56 and 2 months and 62 during the 2021 tax year. In addition, the survey was mailed out to the entire survey population as of May 6, 2022.

Certain Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) non-disability annuitants who retire before age 62 are entitled to an annuity supplement in addition to their basic FERS annuity benefit. This supplement provides a benefit similar to Social Security benefits that annuitants would be eligible to receive from the Social Security Administration (SSA) had the annuitants retired at age 62.

Salary and/or wages the annuitant earns after retirement can affect continued receipt of the annuity supplement. Therefore, the supplement is subject to an earnings test. OPM surveys the annuitants in this category every year while they are in receipt of an annuity supplement to ask if they have any wages and/or self-employment income to report (i.e., other than annuity benefits) for the previous tax year. This year the survey will begin in April 2022. The completed survey responses submitted from the annuitants must be signed and dated. A daytime telephone number is required. All forms must be completed and returned (if applicable) no later than June 30, 2022.

Annuitants are encouraged to call the Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 (Mon – Fri, 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET) for any inquiries regarding the 2021 FERS Annuity Supplement Earnings Survey.

• I did not have any earned income in 2021. Do I need to return the Disability Earnings Survey? View more
  Yes, please complete the survey on SOL, placing all zeros in the Reporting Earnings field.
• Where can I locate the Disability Earnings Survey on SOL? View more
  Use the following link www.servicesonline.opm.gov to gain access to SOL. Within SOL, during the Survey period, a link to the survey will be located at the bottom of the main Menu options.
• Is there an alternative way to submit my 2021 earnings other than through SOL? View more
  Unless you have an assigned Representative Payee, Organizational Payee, or Court Appointed Guardian or Conservator to manage your benefits, then you must submit your 2021 earnings through SOL.
• I am a retiree receiving disability benefits and my SOL account has been suspended. How do I unlock my account? View more
  Please contact the Retirement Information Office toll free at 1-888-767-6738 (Mon-Fri from 7:40A.M. to 5:00P.M., Eastern Standard Time).
• If I submitted my earnings information using Services Online, will I receive a confirmation? View more
  Yes, if you submitted your earnings using Services Online will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of your successful submission of your earnings. You will also be able to confirm your survey submission in the "Transaction History" option in the Services Online menu.
• I submitted the wrong reported earnings on the DES on SOL, can I resubmit my earnings again through SOL? View more
  No, you must request and complete a paper 2021 DES form and mail it back to OPM for processing.
• Do I have to report my benefits as earnings on the Disability Earnings Survey? View more
  No, do not report your benefits as earnings on the Disability Earnings Survey. You only need to report your gross employment earnings and/or your net self-employment earnings.
• What is the due date for submitting my earnings in Services Online? View more
  You will be able to submit your earnings via Services Online through June 30, 2022.
• Why was my disability annuity suspended by the Retirement Surveys and Students Branch? View more
  The Retirement Surveys and Students Branch suspends an annuitant's benefits when OPM receives undeliverable Disability Earnings Survey forms back from the post office. If you moved and your mailing address on record has not been updated since January 3, 2022, then the annuity may be suspended.
• How do I restore my annuity? View more
  To restore your annuity, please contact the Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 so that your information can be forwarded to the appropriate specialist within the Retirement Surveys and Students Branch. The Retirement Surveys and Students Branch will confirm your current mailing address, mail a new Disability Earnings Survey, and restore your annuity.
• I only received federal disability retirement and Social Security benefits as income in 2021. Is this considered earned income? View more
  No, federal disability retirement and Social Security benefits are not considered earned income.
• I only received unemployment compensation, workers compensation, and I withdrew money from my TSP and 401K plan. Is this considered earned income? View more
  No, unemployment compensation, workers compensation, and TSP or 401K disbursements are not considered earned income.
• I received earned income before the effective date of my disability retirement. Is this considered earned income? View more
  No, income earned before the effective date of your disability retirement does not count as earned income.
• I received a "restored to earning capacity" termination letter. How do I apply for reinstatement of my disability annuity? View more
  In this case, your disability annuity was terminated because your reported earned income for 2020 met or exceeded your 80% "restored to earning capacity" limit.
  
  If you believe your 2021 earned income is below your 80% "restored to earning capacity" limit, fax a letter of request for a restoration of disability annuity package to (202) 606-0022 with an ATTENTION to Retirement Surveys and Students - Request for DES Restoration. Please include your completed 2021 Tax Return with all associated W-2s.
• What does the term 'Earned Income' Mean? View more

  "Earned Income" means:

  • Any salary or pay you received working for someone else (including overtime, vacation pay, bonuses, and severance pay, etc.);
  • If you are self-employed, any self-employment net earnings made from working or managing your own business;
  • Deferred income (income you earned but didn’t receive during this calendar year); and
  • If you are re-employed in Federal service, the gross income before your employing agency offsets your salary.

  Generally, all income subject to Federal Employment taxes or self-employment net profit is considered earned income. Work wages are on any W-2 statement issued by an employer.

  DO NOT INCLUDE MONEY EARNED BEFORE RETIREMENT.

• What is Not Considered Earned Income: View more
  Income reported on form 1099 such as Civil Service Retirement benefits, annuities, pensions, Social Security benefits, Veteran’s benefits, and military retired pay, withdrawals from 401 K plans, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, interest and dividends from savings accounts, stocks, personal loans, or home mortgages held, insurance proceeds, gifts, inheritances, estates, trusts, endowments, prizes, awards, gambling or lottery winnings, alimony/child support, scholarships or fellowships, pay for jury duty, capital gains from the sale of personal property, amounts received in court actions, and rents or royalties UNLESS received in the course of your trade or business.

• When will I receive my survey? My neighbor already received theirs. View more
  With ongoing delays with the U.S. Postal Service due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, it may take longer to receive the survey in the mail than in the past. All mailings should be received within 15 - 20 business days from the end of April 2022.
• What do I report as earnings? View more
  Any employment wages and/or self-employment income earned in the 2021 tax year and after both retirement and obtaining 56 and 2 months of age.
• What earnings do I use from my W2? View more
  Please use the highest amount from box 1, 3 or 5.
• I never received this earnings survey before. What's this about? View more
  The annuity supplement portion of your monthly payment (code 67 in ARPS) is subject to an annual earnings test. If you earn more than the exempt amount ($18,960 for 2021), you must return the survey. The amount of the exempt amount (or limitation) is set by the Social Security Administration. If you made more than the earnings limit your supplement will be reduced $1 for every $2 you go over the limit. Your basic FERS annuity is not affected.
• I didn't have any earnings besides my annuity. View more
  You do not have to return the form. (Unless your supplement has been reduced in a previous year)
• I worked, but I earned less than the exempt amount of $18,960 for 2021. Do I have to return the survey form?? View more
  You do not have to return the form (unless your supplement has been reduced in a previous year).
• I am an FAA Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Instructor or supervisor; do I have to report earnings? View more
  Only earnings from FAA/ATC Contracted Instructors or supervisors are excluded as of 01/01/2021 through 12/31/2021. Any other employment earnings need to be reported. Do Not Report: Post retirement earnings of a retired air traffic controller who is reemployed as an air traffic control instructor, or supervisor under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration, including an instructor or supervisor working at an on-site facility (such as an airport). See 5 U.S.C. § 8421a(c).
• What is the exempt amount for this current 2022 tax year? View more
  The exempt amount for 2022 is $19,560.
• When will I see the difference in my check? View more
  You should see the difference on the August 1, 2022, payment date.
• I am self employed. What do I count as earnings? View more
  You should count your NET profit/earnings (i.e., your earnings after expenses).
• I lost my supplement in a previous year and I want to get it reinstated. View more
  Are you under 62 for the tax year in question? If so, request reinstatement in writing, by listing your claim number, phone number, and a return address on your signed request. Provide your 1040 tax returns for the year in question, associated W-2s (both you and spouse if filed jointly) and the Social Security Administration’s Summary of Earnings Report. Please fax this documentation to Retirement Surveys and Students at (202) 606-0022. This documentation may also be mailed to the following address:

  U.S. Office of Personnel Management
  Retirement Surveys and Students, TRB-2416
  FERS Supplement Survey
  1900 E St, NW
  Washington, D.C. 20415

• I serve in the Reserves (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) and I earned over the exempt amount. Do I have to count that as earnings? View more
  Yes, all earned income through employment should be counted no matter what the source.
• I took some money out of my TSP account. Do I count that as earnings? View more
  No, only work earnings are subject to the annual earnings test.

• Why did I receive a Marital Survey? View more
  Marital surveys are mailed yearly to all annuitants currently receiving a survivor annuity benefit to determine if remarriage has occurred prior to age 55.
• Do I have to return my Marital Survey? View more
  Yes. All marital surveys must be completed and returned. Benefits are suspended for those annuitants who do not complete and return the survey.
• How long will I continue to receive a Marital Survey? View more
  Until you reach age 55.
• For the Marital Survey, what do I report as earnings? View more
  Any earned income in the prior year after retirement. (Basically the same as the Disability Survey)
• I received a Marital Survey in the mail. What if I did remarry prior to age 55 and never notified OPM? View more
  Complete the survey form and return it in the envelope included as well as attaching a copy of your marriage certificate.
• I received a Marital Survey in the mail. I remarried prior to age 55 and I am now divorced, what should I do? View more
  Please complete and return the form along with a copy of your marriage certificate and divorce decree. You are entitled to benefits for the periods which you were not married.
• I received a Marital Survey in the mail. My survivor annuity was terminated due to remarriage before age 55; why is my health insurance cancelled? View more
  You lose eligibility for health benefits coverage with OPM for all periods in which you are not entitled to survivor benefits. You may qualify for temporary health benefits coverage that requires that you pay the premiums directly. Please contact OPM's Health Benefits Unit at 202-606-5148.