Form RI 20-7 RI 20-7 Representative Payee Application

OMB Approval 3206-0140

United States
Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Operations
P.O. Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045

Date of this letter
File reference
Name of annuitant
Annuitant's claim number or social security number

Representative Payee Application
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has received information indicating that the above-named annuitant may not be capable of
handling his or her benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System. (Note: The annuitant
may be a minor child without a parent to handle the benefits.) If the annuitant cannot handle the benefits, we require that the payments be
made to a court-appointed fiduciary or to a person we select to represent the annuitant. A fiduciary is a person or institution appointed by a
State court to be responsible for managing funds on behalf of another person.
Under the retirement law, the preferred payee in this type of case is a court-appointed fiduciary. However, if a fiduciary has not been
appointed, we have authority to make payments to a representative who is willing to act on behalf of the annuitant. In addition to receiving
annuity payments, the person representing the annuitant is responsible for acting in the annuitant's best interests by using the payments to
benefit the annuitant, authorizing the correct withholding of Federal income tax from the annuity, and selecting the Federally sponsored health
benefits coverage for the annuitant when applicable.
Payments are made to a court-appointed fiduciary or "OPM selected representative" with the clear understanding that the funds will be used or
conserved for the benefit of the annuitant. In the event that part or all of the annuitant's monthly payment is not required to meet his or her
current needs, the representative is required to conserve the unused amount for the annuitant's future needs. The representative will be held
accountable for the funds and will have to provide written reports as OPM may require to show that the payments are being properly used for
the annuitant. Further, the representative is obligated to notify OPM immediately when he or she is no longer acting for the annuitant. The
representative will be held liable for any payments which may be received after the annuitant dies. Such payments must be immediately
returned to the U.S. Treasury Department.
OPM will not make a payee change based on a power of attorney or the existence of a joint account with the annuitant at a financial institution.
We require either a State court appointment of a fiduciary or an "OPM administered" agreement before we will allow anyone other than the
annuitant to receive payments or authorize actions based on this claim.
If there is a court-appointed fiduciary, he or she may apply to become payee by sending us an original or a certified copy of the court
appointment in the enclosed envelope with the attached application for selection. (Photocopies that have not been certified are not acceptable.)
If there is no court-appointed fiduciary or if there is one, but you believe that you should receive the payments instead, please assist us in
selecting a payee by completing the attached application and returning it in the enclosed envelope or to the address shown above.
For more information, call the Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 p.m.
Eastern time or write to us at the address shown above. Thank you for your cooperation.
Signature

Retirement Operations

If this box is checked, you must submit the information described on the enclosed form along with this application.
Enclosure: RI 30-3, Information Necessary for a Competency Determination

Previous editions are usable

RI 20-7
Revised January 2021

Application For Selection As Representative Payee of an Annuitant
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is interested in selecting the most suitable person to be the payee. It is necessary, therefore, to determine your
relationship to the annuitant and the extent of your ability to take care of him or her. Please make sure that you answer all of the following questions so that
we can proceed as soon as possible. Court-appointed fiduciaries must send OPM an original or a certified copy of the court appointment along with this
application. (Photocopies that are not certified are not acceptable.)

Answer completely. Give explanations where required. Attach additional sheet if necessary.
Part A - Identifying Information
1. Annuitant's claim number

5. Your name and mailing address

2. Name of annuitant

3. Where does the annuitant live? (Street,, city, state & ZIP code)

6. Other names you have used

4. Your relationship to the annuitant (For example: spouse, daughter, friend)

7. Your social security number

8. Your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy)

Part B - Information About How You Will Discharge Your Duties as Payee
Yes

No

9. Do you live within commuting distance of the annuitant? (If "no" explain in the Remarks section how you will take care of the

annuitant's financial affairs.)
10. Are you currently employed? (If "yes," show occupation here: ________________________________________________________)

(If "no," explain in the Remarks section. For example, are you retired, unemployed, etc.?)
11. Do you have any prior experience as a representative payee? (If "yes" explain in the Remarks section.)
12. Have you ever been dismissed as a representative payee or convicted of a crime related to misuse of funds?

(If "yes" explain in the Remarks section.)
13. Have you assumed the responsibility for providing care for the annuitant? (If your answer is "no", show in the Remarks section

the name and address of the person who has assumed these responsibilities.)
14. Have you assumed the responsibility for the annuitant's routine expenses? (If your answer is "no", show in the Remarks section the

name and address of the person who has assumed these responsibilities.)
15. If the annuitant is not a minor, has the annuitant been adjudged incompetent by a State court? (If your answer is "yes", you must

attach an original or a certified copy of the court's order for decree. Non-certified photocopies are not acceptable. If the answer
is "no", you must attach medical documentation showing incompetence, as described on the enclosed RI 30-3.)
16. To your knowledge, has any individual been appointed, or applied for appointment, by a State court as guardian or other fiduciary

charged with responsibility for the minor's or incompetent's person and/or estate? (If the answer is "yes", you must provide us with
that other person's name and address, in the Remarks section, and explain why you believe that it would be more in the interest of
the annuitant that payment be made to you.)
17. Explain below how, if you are selected representative payee, you will use the annuity payments to meet the needs and provide for the well-being of the
annuitant. If and when the annuity payments are not required to meet the current needs and provide for the well-being of the annuitant, how will you
otherwise expend or conserve such monies?

Remarks (add additional pages, if necessary)

Complete Part C on the other side of this page.

RI 20-7
Revised January 2021

Part C - Direct Deposit
If you are not already on the retiree/survivor's bank account and/or prefer to change the direct deposit then complete the information below with the deposit
information.
Federal benefits payments will be made electronically by Direct Deposit into a savings or checking account or by a Direct Express debit card provided by the
Department of Treasury. This does not apply to you if your permanent payment address is outside the United States in a country not accessible via Direct
Deposit/Direct Express.
1.

Select one of the following:

Please send the annuity payments to my checking or savings account. (Go to Item 2.)
Please send the annuity payments to my Direct Express debit card. (Go to Item 4.)
My permanent payment address is outside the United States in a country not accessible via Direct Deposit. (Go to Item 4.)
2.

Financial institution routing number

3.

Account number

You may obtain this number by calling your bank, credit union, or savings institution.
This number is very important. We cannot pay Direct Deposit without it.
3a.

What kind of account is this?

3b.

Telephone number of your financial institution (including area code)

(
3c.

Name and address of the financial institution

)

3d.
Special Note: If you prefer, you may attach a cancelled personal check that
shows the information requested above, instead of filling in the requested
financial institution information. If you attach your personal check, it is
especially important that you contact your bank, credit union, or savings
institution to confirm that the information on the check is the correct
information for direct deposit. (Some institutions, especially credit unions,
use different routing numbers on checks.)

4.

Do you want Federal income tax withheld from the annuity payments?

Yes (Attach a copy of W-4 form.)

No (Attach a new W-4 form; otherwise, withholding will be at the
rate for married with 3 exemptions.)

Part D - Certification
I certify that the above information is correct. I hereby affirm that I will comply with the following requirements if I am selected as the
representative payee for the annuitant.
(1) I agree to promptly notify the Office of Personnel Management in writing when I can no longer act in the best interest of the
annuitant named.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

I agree to promptly submit such written accountability reports as the Office of Personnel Management may require.
I agree to promptly notify the Office of Personnel Management if the annuitant or I move from the address I furnished in Part A.
I agree to promptly notify the Office of Personnel Management if the annuitant recovers the capacity to handle his or her own affairs.
I agree to promptly notify the Office of Personnel Management in writing if the annuitant dies and to provide a copy of the death
certificate.

(6) I agree to promptly notify the Office of Personnel Management if the disabled child marries or becomes self supporting.
(7) I agree that I will be liable for any payments which I receive after the annuitant's death. I understand that all such payments will be
considered debts to the U.S. Government and are to be immediately returned to the U.S. Treasury Department. I further understand that
failure to return such payments will result in appropriate debt collection activity, including the addition of interest and administrative
charges, report to collection agencies, etc.
Warning: Any intentionally false statement, willful concealment of a material fact, or use of a document knowing the same to contain false, fictitious, or
fraudulent statements or entry is a violation of the law punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years or
both (18 U.S.C. 1001).
Signature
Telephone number (including area code)
Date
E-mail address
Privacy Act Statement
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3), this Privacy Act Statement serves to inform you of why OPM is requesting the information on this form. Authority: OPM is authorized to
collect the information requested on this form by 5 U.S.C. § 8345 and 8466 which provides that payment due to a minor, or an individual mentally incompetent or under legal
disability, may be made to the person who is constituted guardian or other fiduciary by the law of the State of residence of the claimant or is otherwise vested with the care of
the claimant or his estate. OPM is authorized to collect your Social Security number by Executive Order 9397 (November 22, 1943), as amended by Executive Order 13478
(November 18, 2008). Purpose: OPM is requesting this information in order to determine if you will be selected as payee for the annuitant. Routine Uses: The information
requested on this form may be shared externally as a "routine use" to other Federal agencies and third-parties when it is necessary to process your request. For example, OPM
may share your information with other Federal, state, or local agencies and organizations in order to determine benefits under their programs, to obtain information necessary
for a determination of your suitability, or to report income for tax purposes. OPM may also share your information with law enforcement agencies if it becomes aware of a
violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law. A complete list of the routine uses can be found in the OPM/CENTRAL 1 Civil Service Retirement and Insurance
Records systems of records notice, available at www.opm.gov/privacy. Consequences of Failure to Provide Information: Providing this information is voluntary.
However, failure to provide this information may delay or prevent OPM from being able to select you as payee for the annuitant.

Public Burden Statement
We estimate this form takes an average of 30 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 Office of Personnel
Management (OPM), Retirement Services Publications Team (3206-0140), Washington, D.C. 20415-0001. The OMB Number 3206-0140 is currently valid. OPM may not
collect this information, and you are not required to respond, unless this number is displayed.
Reverse of RI 20-7
Revised January 2021