WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A RETIRED CARRIER’S DEATH
Reference for Survivors
The survivor should notify:
1. For the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS):
Office of Personnel Management Employee Service and Records Center PO Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045
For the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS): Office of Personnel Management FERS
PO Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045
When writing to the Office of Personnel Management, you should request:
SF 2800 Application for Death Benefits FE 6 Claim for Benefits, Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance
Include the deceased employee’s name, CSA number, your name, and signature. Fill out these forms and return them with a certified copy of the death certificate in each envelope which you are provided. Survivor annuities are not paid automatically. They must be applied for. Return any checks addressed to the deceased employee to the address of the Treasury Department on the envelope in which they were mailed.
2. Notify the Secretary-Treasurer of the NRLCA and the state Secretary of the state RLCA where the deceased was a member. Give the Social Security number of the deceased employee.
3. If the deceased employee was retired from military service, notify the commanding officer of the nearest military installation.
4. If the deceased employee was in receipt of a benefit payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you may notify the VA by calling (800) 827- 1000. Spouses may also be entitled to VA death benefits and assistance.
5. Change deceased employee’s name to survivor’s name on all important papers.
6. Notify insurance companies for policies on life (if Provident Guild, write Secretary- Treasurer, PO Box 105, Minster, OH 458650105; if Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, contact local personnel office; if NRLCA Life Insurance, contact 1630 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3467, hospitalization (if NRLCA, write Rural Carrier Benefit Plan, 1630 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3467, house and automobile (if NGIC Insurance Company, contact P.O. Box 66937, St. Louis, MO 63166-6937; or contact your local insurance carrier).
7. Notify the Social Security Administration.
8. Notify the Internal Revenue Service and state income tax department.
9. Notify local bank(s) and/or credit Unions.
10. Check safety deposit box and instructions.
11. Have funeral director obtain the appropriate number of death certificates needed. He/she can advise how many.
12. If previously married, secure divorce papers.
13. If presently married, secure marriage license.
14. If the cause of death is due to a job-related injury, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) will pay up to $1,000 burial expenses, minus any amount the VA pays.
15. In the case of job-related death, the survivor may also apply for an annuity from the OWCP. He/she can then choose the highest annuity.
16. Notify the local post office where the employee worked concerning the memorial service.
17. As a surviving spouse, you are eligible to continue receiving the NRLCA magazine. Contact your state Secretary to see if the state pays for subscriptions. If it does not, you can mail a check for $20 to the NRLCA to continue receiving the magazine.
Note: A will should be seriously considered. If there is no will, an executor must be named and an expensive court action could result.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN ACTIVE CARRIER’S DEATH
Reference for Survivors
1. Notify employee’s immediate supervisor/postmaster.
2. Notify the Secretary-Treasurer of the NRLCA and the state Secretary of the state RLCA where the deceased was a member. Give the Social Security number of the deceased employee.
3. If the deceased employee was in receipt of a benefit payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), you may notify the VA by calling (800) 827- 1000. Spouses may also be entitled to VA death benefits and assistance.
4. Notify local banks and/or postal credit Unions.
5. Notify the Social Security Administration at the local office.
6. Contact insurance companies for policies on life (if Provident Guild, write Secretary-Treasurer, PO Box 105, Minster, OH 458650105; if Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, contact local personnel office; if NRLCA Life Insurance, contact 1630 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3467, hospitalization (if NRLCA, write Rural Carrier Benefit Plan, 1630 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3467), house and automobile (if NGIC Insurance Company, contact P.O. Box 66937, St. Louis, MO 63166-6937; or your local insurance carrier).
7. Notify the Internal Revenue Service and state income tax department.
8. Check for safety deposit box and instructions.
9. Arrange to have name changes on all important papers to surviving party’s name.
10. Notify supervisor/postmaster/employees of the time and place of memorial service.
11. Have the funeral director obtain enough death certificates for your needs. He/she can advise how many.
12. Give supervisor/postmaster any items belonging to the Postal Service.
13. Papers to fill out (available in some post offices from personnel section or postmaster):
SF 2800 Application for Death Benefits
SF 1153 Claim of Designated Beneficiary for Unpaid Compensation
SF 155 Claim for Unpaid Compensation, No Designated Beneficiary
FE 6 Claim for Benefits, Federal Employees Group Life Ins.
14. Check with personnel section or postmaster for annuity for yourself and any minor children.
15. If a previous marriage, secure divorce papers.
16. If a present marriage, secure marriage license.
17. If the cause of death is due to a job-related injury, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) will pay up to $800 in burial expenses, minus any amount the VA pays.
18. In the case of job-related death, the survivor may also apply for an annuity from the OWCP. He/she may then choose the higher amount, but there are precautions that you need to discuss with personnel or the Union on this subject.
19. As a surviving spouse, you are eligible to continue receiving the NRLCA magazine. Contact your state Secretary to see if the state pays for subscriptions. If it does not, you can mail a check for $20 to the NRLCA to continue receiving the magazine.
Note: A will should be seriously considered. If there is no will, an executor must be named and an expensive court action could result.
SURVIVING SPOUSE ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
We often receive questions from the spouse of a deceased retired carrier about continuing health insurance coverage when a carrier dies. There are two requirements for a surviving spouse to continue health insurance coverage after the death of a retired carrier. However, it is very important that some planning take place before a carrier retires to be sure that a spouse will be eligible for health insurance coverage later when a retired carrier dies.
The requirements for a surviving spouse to be eligible to continue health insurance coverage after the death of a retired carrier are part of the Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) regulations. A surviving spouse must satisfy both requirements to continue health insurance coverage.
1. The surviving spouse must be covered by a self and family enrollment in a FEHB plan when the retiree dies; and
2. The surviving spouse must be eligible to receive a survivor annuity benefit from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
In planning for retirement, it is very important for an employee to select some amount of survivor annuity benefit (the full benefit is not required) for the spouse. Without a survivor annuity benefit, the surviving spouse will lose health insurance coverage after a retired carrier dies.
When a retired carrier dies, the surviving spouse or family should notify OPM as soon as possible. The notification can be by telephone or in writing. The toll-free number at OPM is 1-888-767-6738. The mail address for OPM is:
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Retirement Operations Center
PO Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045
When calling or writing OPM, please be sure to include or have available the civil service claim number (CSA #) of the deceased retired carrier. OPM will send the necessary claim form(s) and instructions to the surviving spouse or designated beneficiary. Be sure to attach a death certificate to each claim form and return it to the address provided.
OPM will determine whether a surviving spouse is eligible for continued health insurance coverage and notify the FEHB plan. If the spouse is eligible for continued health insurance coverage, the health plan will issue a new ID card in the name of the surviving spouse. The monthly premium for the health insurance coverage (usually for self only coverage) will be withheld from the survivor annuity benefit paid by OPM.
The FEHB regulations also prohibit a FEHB plan from requiring a surviving spouse to pay membership dues to keep health insurance coverage. That means that the surviving spouse of a rural carrier is not required to be a member of the Auxiliary to keep health insurance coverage.