Processing Retirement Documents (RETIRE)

Processing a Preliminary Disability Retirement

To Process a Preliminary Disability Retirement:

1. Enter the preliminary disability retirement personnel action in EPIC Web, EmpowHR, or FESI. Special attention should be given to the entry of the appropriate remarks codes, Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage code, effective date, and the last day in pay status.
2. Complete the Effective Date field. Enter the last day of the pay period that the SF 2801/SF 3107 is received in the employee's personnel office.
3. Complete the Last Date in Pay Status field. Enter the projected final date that the employee will be in pay status.
4. If the employee is currently enrolled in FEHB and will be eligible to continue FEHB coverage, enter 389, Transfer FEHB Enrollment to OPM, in Remarks Code field.
5. For those employees with retirement code Y or Z who are currently enrolled in FEHB and who will be eligible to continue FEHB coverage, enter 390, Transfer FEHB to DC Retirement System, in the Remarks Code field.
6. If the employee is currently enrolled in FEHB and will not be eligible to continue FEHB coverage, enter 388, Terminate FEHB Enrollment, in the Remarks Code field.

   Whenever Remarks Code 388 is entered, one of the following Remarks Codes must also be entered in the Remarks Code field:

   • 564, Terminate FEHB - Not Enrolled Since First Opportunity
   • 565, Terminate FEHB - Not Enrolled 5 years, or
   • 566, Terminate FEHB - No Survivor Eligible to Continue Health Benefits
7. If the employee is currently participating in the Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), enter 567, Basic Life Insurance: Elected Reduction, and if applicable, one of the following codes must also be entered in the Remarks Code field:
   • 560 - Standard Optional Insurance: Declined
   • 561 - Family Optional Insurance: Not Eligible to Continue
   • 562 - Standard Optional Insurance Eligible to Continue: Coverage Began
   • 568 - Additional Optional Insurance: Declined
   • 569 - Additional Optional Insurance: Eligible to Continue: Coverage Began Lowest Multiple of Salary During Last 5 Years: Elected Reduction
   • 570 - Additional Optional Insurance: Not Eligible to Continue
   • 571 - Family Optional Insurance: Declined
   • 572 - Family Optional Insurance: Eligible to Continue: Coverage Began
   • 573 - Family Optional Insurance: Not Eligible to Continue

     Note: For additional remarks codes descriptions, access the Table Management System (TMGT), Table 052, Remarks Codes and Descriptions.

8. If the employee is in leave without pay (LWOP) status, enter Remarks Code 211, LWOP Pending Approval of Disability Retirement Application, on all preliminary disability retirement actions. The entry of Remarks Code 211 results in OPM collection of FEHB premiums from the employee's annuity instead of NFC issuing a bill to the employee.
9. Enter data into RETM to track the employee's application before sending the retirement package to NFC. For detailed information on the retirement package, see the RETM procedure.
10. If OPM approves the application, OPM will send Form RI 30-27, Allowance Letter, in duplicate, to the Agency personnel office. Upon receipt of this notification, the Agency should take final action to separate the employee in accordance with OPM regulations.
11. Prepare the final disability package, and submit to NFC with the Allowance letter.