Section G - Information About the Deceased Person's
Estate
1. If someone was named as executor or administrator
in the deceased person's will, but hasn't been
appointed by a court, check "No." If you have been
appointed by a court, attach a copy of the court
appointment.
Section H - Active Military Service
You do not need to complete parts 1 and 2 of this section if the
deceased was retired at the time of death, since the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) already has this information.
1. Indicate whether the deceased performed active duty
that terminated under honorable conditions in the
Armed Forces or other uniformed services of the
United States. Inactive service in reserve components
of the uniformed services is not creditable for retire-
ment purposes. Service in the National Guard is not
usually considered active Federal military service
except when ordered to active duty in the service of
the United States. However, full-time National
Guard duty (as defined in Section 101(d) of Title 10) is
creditable, if the service interrupts creditable civilian service
and is followed by reemployment (as explained in Chapter
43 of title 38) that occurs on or after August 1, 1990. If the
deceased was a retiree, OPM already has information about
his/her military service.
If you have a copy of the deceased person's DD 214's
or other discharge certificate(s) showing the dates of
active duty and the deceased was a former employee
at the time of death, you should attach it (them) to
your application.
2. Persons who performed active military service after
December 31, 1956, must pay or have paid a deposit
to receive credit under the Federal Employees Retire-
ment System (FERS) for the military service.
If the deceased was an employee at the time of death,
you may pay or complete the payment of the deposit by
completing the election form contained in Documenta-
tion and Elections in Support of Application for Death
Benefits when Deceased was an Employee at the Time of
Death, Standard Form (SF) 3104B, which can be obtained
from the agency where the deceased was last employed.
The deceased's agency can provide you with more infor-
mation regarding this deposit.
3. Indicate whether the deceased ever received or applied for
military retired pay.
If you are receiving military survivor benefits, the
deceased person's military service is used for survivor
purposes, subject to a reduction equal to the amount of
your military survivor benefits. However, if such retired
pay was awarded on account of a service-connected
disability incurred in enemy combat or caused by an
instrumentality of war in the line of duty during a war
period, or was awarded under Chapter 1223, title 10,
U.S. Code (formerly Chapter 67, Title 10), no such
reduction is required. You should attach a copy of your
award of military survivor benefits verifying the award
was based on one of the above reasons.
Section I - Payment Instructions
Complete in all cases. The US Department of the Treasury pays
all Federal benefit payments electronically. Most Federal
payments are paid by Direct Deposit into a savings or checking
account at a financial institution. If you do not have a bank
account, or prefer not to have your survivor annuity payments
deposited directly to your bank account, you can choose a
Direct Express debit card. If you choose this option, your
annuity payment will be automatically deposited to the Direct
Express card on the payment date. To obtain a debit card, go to
www.godirect.org or call 1-800-333-1795. If your payments are
not electronically deposited to your account and you do not
have a Direct Express card, you must contact the Department of
Treasury at 1-800-333-1795.
You cannot receive your survivor annuity payments by direct
deposit or the Direct Express debit card program if your
permanent payment address is outside the United States in a
country where these programs are not available.
Section K - Applicant's Checklist
Use this section of the application to ensure that all required
supporting documentation is attached.
SF 3104A
If the deceased was a retiree at the time of death and you are the
surviving spouse, you should complete Survivor Supplement
(FERS), SF 3104A, which is attached to this application.
Instructions for completing SF 3104A are contained on the form
itself.
SF 3104B
If the deceased was an employee at the time of death and you
are the surviving spouse or former spouse, you and the deceased
person's agency should complete Documentation and Elections
in Support of Application for Death Benefits when Deceased
was an Employee at the Time of Death, SF 3104B, which can be
obtained from the deceased person's former employing agency.
Instructions for completing SF 3104B are contained on the form
itself.
Privacy Act Statement
Solicitation of this information is authorized by the Federal Employees Retirement law (Chapter 84, title 5, U.S. Code). The information you furnish will be used to
identify records properly associated with your application for Federal benefits, to obtain additional information if necessary, to determine and allow present or future
benefits, and to maintain a uniquely identifiable claim file. The information may be shared and is subject to verification, via paper, electronic media, or through the use of
computer matching programs, with national, state, local or other charitable or social security administrative agencies in order to determine benefits under their programs, to
obtain information necessary for determination or continuation of benefits under this program, or to report income for tax purposes. It may also be shared and verified, as
noted above, with law enforcement agencies when they are investigating a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law. Public Law 104-134 (April 26, 1996)
requires that any person doing business with the Federal government furnish a Social Security Number or tax identification number. This is an amendment to title 31,
Section 7701. Failure to furnish the requested information may delay or prevent action on your application.
Public Burden Statement
We estimate this form takes an average of 60 minutes per response to complete, including the time for reviewing instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the
completed form. Send comments regarding our estimate or any other aspect of this form, including suggestions for reducing completion time, to the United States Office of
Personnel Management (OPM), Retirement Services Publications Team (3206-0172), Washington, D.C. 20415-3430. Completed application forms should not be sent to
this address. The OMB Number 3206-0172, is currently valid. OPM may not collect this information, and you are not required to respond, unless this number is displayed.
Instructions
- 3 -
Standard Form 3104
Revised May 2013