The Office of Personnel Management administers retirement and insurance benefits for federal civilian employees and retirees. When a federal employee or retiree dies, OPM handles survivor annuity payments, lump sum benefits, and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) claims.

Death notification

When a federal retiree dies, family members, caregivers, or friends should notify OPM as soon as possible. Report the death online at https://rsreporting.opm.gov/AnnuitantDeath/ (also reachable at https://www.opm.gov/reportdeath), by calling 1-888-767-6738 (TTY: 711), or by emailing retire@opm.gov. OPM sends a confirmation email and usually responds within 3 to 5 business days. OPM must be notified to stop annuity payments and begin processing survivor benefits. All payments received after the date of death must be returned to the Treasury Department. If the deceased was a current federal employee (not yet retired), the employing agency's human resources office handles the initial notification through https://www.opm.gov/support/retirement/how-to/report-a-federal-employee-death/.

Deadline: As soon as possible; annuity payments received after death must be returned

Survivor benefits

The OPM offers 5 benefits for surviving family members.

Survivor Annuity

A monthly annuity payment to the surviving spouse or former spouse of a deceased federal retiree who elected survivor benefits at retirement. Under FERS, the survivor annuity is 50% of the retiree's unreduced annuity (or 25% if elected). Under CSRS, the survivor annuity is 55% of the annuity base selected.

Amount: 50% of unreduced annuity (FERS full survivor); 55% of base (CSRS)

Lump Sum Death Benefit

If the deceased federal employee or retiree had no survivor annuity beneficiary, OPM pays remaining retirement contributions (plus interest) as a lump sum to eligible survivors in a specific order of precedence: designated beneficiary, surviving spouse, children, parents, executor of estate, or next of kin.

Amount: Varies based on total retirement contributions plus accrued interest

Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)

Life insurance benefit payable to beneficiaries of federal employees and retirees enrolled in FEGLI. Basic insurance is equal to the employee's annual salary rounded up to the next thousand, plus $2,000. Optional insurance may also be in effect.

Amount: Basic: annual salary rounded up to next $1,000 plus $2,000; varies with optional coverage

Basic Employee Death Benefit (FERS Only)

A one-time lump sum payment to the surviving spouse (or designated beneficiary) of a deceased FERS employee who had at least 18 months of creditable civilian service. The benefit equals 50% of the employee's final salary plus a fixed amount adjusted annually.

Amount: 50% of final salary (or average salary, if higher) plus $43,800.53 (for deaths after December 1, 2025; adjusted by CSRS COLA)

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Continuation

A surviving spouse receiving a survivor annuity can continue coverage under the deceased's FEHB plan. The surviving spouse must have been covered under the plan at the time of death.