Retirement FAQs
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Questions and Answers
If a court order awards you a portion of your former spouse’s retirement benefit, you must apply in writing to OPM. No special form is required. Your application letter must be accompanied by—
- A court-certified copy of the court order acceptable for processing directing OPM to pay you a portion of your former spouse’s employee annuity.
- A statement/certification that the court order is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside.
- Sufficient information for OPM to identify the employee or retiree, such as your former spouse’s full name, CSRS or FERS claim number, date of birth, and social security number.
- Your current mailing address and the current mailing address of your former spouse.
- When a court order is subject to termination upon remarriage no payment can be made without further statement that remarriage has not occurred.
Please send your request to the address below:
Office of Personnel Management
Court Ordered Benefits Branch
P.O. Box 17
Washington, DC 20044-0017
For more information about court-ordered benefits, visit the links below:
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered Benefits Former SpousesFederal taxes, spouse equity, and survivor costs (if the court order stipulates you must pay) will be withheld from your apportionment when the payment is set up. However, you must specify the dollar amount of State tax you want withheld from your apportionment by contacting the Court Order Benefits office or by using the Services Online tool to start, change or stop your Federal and State tax withholdings.
To establish/change withholdings and allotments, visit Services Online or call the Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738.
For more information visit the Federal and State Tax and Annuity Payments webpages.
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsThe former spouse will begin receiving their annuity payment/apportionment after the Federal employee’s retirement case has been finalized and the application for benefits has been received from the former spouse.
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsYes, you will receive a portion of the refund if the court order expressly awards you a portion of the refund of your former spouse’s employee deductions.
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Retire FAQ Court-Ordered Benefits Former SpousesIf the court order awards you a cost of living adjustment (COLA), you will receive the adjustment when your former spouse does.
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Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsYes, we honor amended court orders. The order will be honored on the first day of the second month after it was received. OPM does not provide legal guidance; please refer to the Handbook for Attorneys: Health Benefits under the Civil Service Retirement Benefits, Federal Employees Retirement Benefits, and Federal Employees Health Benefits for additional details regarding court orders acceptable for processing.
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsYes, the supplement is included in your apportionment, unless the court order specifically states not to include it.
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Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsNo, OPM will only honor orders that specifically direct OPM to pay the order.
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsYou must apply for enrollment in TCC or Spouse Equity within 60 days of approval of your court order by OPM’s Court Ordered Benefits Branch. For more information visit Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) or Spousal Equity provision.
Related Categories
Retire FAQ Court-Ordered BenefitsAnnuitants (federal retirees, survivors, spouses, former spouses, and children) can manage their annuity accounts online using OPM tools.
You will receive a welcome letter in the mail from OPM Retirement Services when we approve your application to start receiving your recurring monthly payment. Your welcome letter includes your claim number.
Within a few days of receiving your welcome letter, you will receive a letter with a temporary password to access OPM Retirement Services Online.
You will have 30 days to sign into your online account with your temporary password before it expires. Once you are signed in, you will be prompted to create a new password and create security questions and answers.
If your temporary password has expired, contact us to send you a new password so you can start using your online account.
To protect annuitants' security, OPM manages all online account creation. Contact us if you need help accessing your online account. OPM Retirement Services Online allows you to do the following:
- View your monthly annuity payment statement
- View your annual summary of payment
- Verify life insurance enrollment (FEGLI)
- View your 1099-R tax form
- Change your federal and state income tax withholdings
- View or print your retirement card
- Check your interim retirement pay status
- Start or change direct deposit
- Start or change a checking or savings account allotment
- Start or change allotment to an organization
- Request a copy of your annuity booklet
- Update your profile and contact information
- Change your mailing address
- Participate in the Disability Earnings Survey (if applicable)
What you can do without an account:
- Report a missing annuity payment
- Report an annuitant’s death
- Report a federal employee’s death
- Self-certify student enrollment