Q. My mother died in the first week of June 2010 as a retired nurse for the VA. I am named as a beneficiary on her plan. When I called about the lump-sum payment I was told that it would only contain funds that my mother did not receive during the month that she died. What happens to the rest of the money that she had in the account that she would be drawing on if she had not died? Why do I only get that one month’s check?
A. Since you are neither a spouse nor, I suspect, a child under age 18 and unmarried, one between 18 and 22, unmarried and a full-time student, or one who was disabled before age 18, unmarried and incapable of self support, the only retirement payment you would be entitled to is the amount of your mother’s annuity accrued to the date of her death. However, you may be entitled to the proceeds of her Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance or her Thrift Savings Plan, if she had them.
To check on the former, call OPM’s Retirement Information Office at 888-767-6738. To check on the latter, write TSP Death Benefits Processing Unit, Fairfax Post Office, DEDIS, P.O. Box 4450, Fairfax, VA 22038-9998. In both cases, you’ll need to provide your mother’s full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and civil service retiree ID number.
2 Comments
I Was married 13 yrs to CSRS federal employee. Upon his death I received the papers to file, however I became very sick. Due to decline in health, I was unable to return the papers. It has been two years. Is it too late to receive the benefits? I anticipate the the two years missed will be retroactive.
Call OPM’s Retirement information Office at 1-888-767-6738.