Report a federal employee death
If you're the spouse of a federal employee who passed away, you can report the death to OPM to help process potential retirement benefits for surviving spouses and children.
How to report an employee death
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Go to the online reporting page
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Select a federal retirement program, and then click Continue
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Provide the employee's information and your (surviving spouse) information
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Submit your report and wait to hear back from us
We'll send you a confirmation email that we received your report of employee death. We usually respond within 3 to 5 business days. We'll call or email you with an answer. Please don't contact us in the meantime.
How to report a death if you are a relative or caregiver
You should contact the human resources office of the agency where the employee worked. Only surviving spouses of employees can report a death directly to OPM.
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A claim number is required to make a help submission.
If you are an annuitant, you can find your CSA or CSF claim number on your 1099-R, your annual COLA notice or your Benefits Booklet.
If you are unable to locate your CSA or CSF claim number, or you are not a retiree, former spouse of a retiree or a survivor of a retiree, or you are inquiring about the status of a refund application, please contact us on
1-888-767-6738 and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.
Contact us for more support
Report a Death
To report a death of a Retired Federal Employee or Current Federal Employee, please click the link below that applies:
Submit your information below and one of our Customer Service Specialists will begin working on your request. All fields are required. We usually respond within 3 to 5 business days.
Please be advised that the information submitted must be entered by the annuitant or on behalf of the annuitant by the Representative Payee.
Call us if you can't find an answer to your question on OPM.gov or if you can't sign in to OPM Retirement Services Online to manage your annuity account. You may also need to call us for special or complex cases, or because we directed you to.
Phone: 1-888-767-6738
TTY: 711
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
Closed on federal holidays
Our busiest time is between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET.
Please make sure your first and last name, phone number, email address, claim number, and signature are included in any inquiries or documents you mail to us. We usually respond within 1 to 3 weeks after we receive your mail.
Retirement Operations Center
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Post Office Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017
OPM Retirement Services does not have a main fax number.
You should only fax us documents if an official OPM form or one of our Customer Service Specialists asks you to (the fax number will be provided on the form, or the Customer Service Specialist will provide you one.) Otherwise, you should mail us your documents.