My how things have changed over the last few decades. When I started out in the personnel business, retiree and survivor communications with the then Civil Service Commission were always in the form of letters. Later came the Retirement Information Office, first in the form of trained representatives answering the phone, and then through an automated menu, which can lead you to a trained representative. Now retirees and survivors who want to do routine but important things can do so over the Internet.
Here are some examples of what you can do:
• change your federal income tax withholding
• change you state income tax withholding
• buy U.S. savings bonds
• change your personnel identification number (PIN)
• establish an allotment to an organization
• sign up for direct deposit of your annuity payments
• set up a checking or savings allotment
• view your annuity statement
To do any of these things, go to www.servicesonline.opm.gov, and log in with your claim number (CSA or CSF) and PIN number. Note: There two little quirks in the system. First, when you enter your claim number, you begin it with an A or an F; you don’t include the CS. Second, if you are an annuitant, you must put a zero at the end of your claim number; if you’re a survivor, you have to add a W.
The menu that pops up will allow you to make any of the changes mentioned above. Just follow the clear directions.
While this is a pretty nice service, other features have been added that make the site even more valuable. Click on Call Us and you’ll be given the phone numbers to use and the hours of operation. Click on Forms and you’ll be sent to a site where you can locate and download needed forms.
If you want written material, click on Pamphlets and Publications. Or on Frequently Asked Questions to see whether the question you want to ask has already been answered. You can also report a missing payment, or the death of an employee or annuitant.
And there’s more. Even if you aren’t a retiree, I recommend that you visit Retirement Service Online to see what will be available as a one-stop shopping site when you do retire.