FERS Annuity Supplement Survey
Retirement Services mailed 57,000 Annuity Supplement Earnings Surveys (RI 92-22) on April 26, 2017, to our retirement population of non-disability annuitants under the age of 62.
Certain Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) non-disability annuitants are entitled to a supplemental payment in addition to their FERS annuity benefits. This supplement represents what the annuitant would receive for their FERS civilian service from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is calculated as if they were eligible to receive SSA benefits on the day they retired.
Salary and/or wages the annuitant have earned 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 reported earnings (other than annuity benefits) for the previous year. This year the survey was conducted in April. The responses submitted from the annuitants should be signed and dated. A daytime telephone number is required. All forms must be completed and returned as soon as possible if they are received by the annuitant after the May 15, 2017, response due date.
Marital Survey
Retirement Eligibility and Services performs an annual mailing of Marital Surveys to widows and widowers who currently receive a benefit from a deceased federal employee. The Civil Service Retirement law establishes that surviving spouses are not permitted to remarry prior to age 55 (unless they were married to the deceased for at least 30 years prior to his or her death) and continue to receive a benefit. The Marital Survey is sent out in response to this law. The survey requires a response from all survivors receiving a benefit. The form must be signed, dated, and a daytime telephone number is required. All forms must be completed and returned within 30 days of the date of the form. If the survey is not received, then the annuity will be placed in suspense. The survey may be faxed to (202) 606-0022 Attn: Pamela Johnson or returned via mail to:
Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Surveys & Students Branch
Marital Survey Enclosed
1900 E Street, NW Room 2416
Washington DC 20415
The Representative Payee Survey
On February 9, 2016, Retirement Eligibility and Services mailed 12,500 Representative Payee Surveys. This survey is sent to ensure that those individuals receiving payments on behalf of annuitants unable to handle their own finances are using the funds for the benefit of the annuitant. Retirement Services wants to ensure that we have the most accurate information on file.
All payees must respond. The surveys should be returned by mail. Once the surveys are returned, they are screened for completeness and our records updated as needed. If any questions arise, additional information may be requested. The Representative Payee has 30 days to return the survey. Benefits are suspended if a reply is not received.
It has been brought to our attention that the Representative Payee Survey Forms were dated 02/15/2015 with the survey period being 2015. The correct date of the forms should have been 02/15/2016 with the survey period of 2015. Again, the Representative Payees have 30 days to respond to the survey.
Disability Earnings Survey
Retirement Services mailed 66, 027 Disability Earnings Surveys (DES) on or about February 9, 2016, to disabled retirees (annuitants) under age 60. This is a legally mandated survey that allows Retirement Services to determine if disability annuitants are eligible to continue receiving retirement benefits.
The Disability Earnings Survey continues to be an affirmative response survey which means that the annuitant needs to respond only if he or she worked or was self-employed and had earned income. Responses from working annuitants must be signed, dated, and returned within 30 days of receipt. A daytime telephone number is also required. If the annuitant exceeds the earnings limitation, retirement benefits will be suspended effective June 30, 2016.