Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 5 - Administrative Personnel last revised: Oct 24, 2024
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 839.601 - How do I make an election?

You may make your election using the form issued by OPM. If you are an employee, your employer will provide you with this form. If you are not a current employee, OPM will provide the form.

§ 839.602 - What if I don't make an election?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(a), your retirement coverage is summarized in the following chart:

If you are in: And you belong in: You are
considered to have elected:
CSRS or CSRS OffsetFERSCSRS Offset.
FERSCSRS, CSRS Offset or Social Security-OnlyFERS.
CSRS or CSRS OffsetSocial Security-OnlyCSRS Offset.

(b) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(b), you are considered to have elected to remain in your current retirement plan.

§ 839.603 - Can I later change my election?

Your election is irrevocable once your employer or OPM processes it. If you do not make a timely election, the resulting coverage (see § 839.602) is also irrevocable.

§ 839.604 - When is my election effective?

Your election is effective on the date that the retirement coverage error first occurred. This means that your election will be retroactive, or will change your retirement coverage for a period of service in the past.

TIME LIMITS
§ 839.611 - What are the time limits for making an election?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected, you have 6 months from the date you receive notice of the error under § 839.302 to make an election.

(b) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected, the time limit for making an election expires on September 19, 2002.

§ 839.612 - Can I make a belated election?

(a) If you are an employee, your employer can waive the time limit for making an election if you request such a waiver in writing. The employer would have to determine that you exercised due diligence, but could not make an election within the time limit because of circumstances beyond your control.

(b) Your employer's decision not to waive the time limit under this section must be in writing and include notice of your right to request OPM to reconsider the decision.

(c) OPM can waive the time limit for separated employees, retirees, and survivors who exercised due diligence but could not make an election because of circumstances beyond their control if a request is submitted to OPM, and OPM concludes that a waiver is justified.

FERS ELECTIONS
§ 839.621 - Can I cancel my FERS election if I was in the wrong retirement plan at the time I elected FERS coverage and I have an election opportunity under the FERCCA?

If you were erroneously in CSRS, CSRS Offset, or Social Security-Only at the time you elected FERS and you have an election opportunity under the FERCCA, you can choose whether you want the FERS election to remain in effect. However, you may not choose whether you want your FERS election to remain in effect if you chose FERS after your employer notified you that you were put in FERS by mistake (see § 839.221).

§ 839.622 - Can I cancel my FERS election if my qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and I now have an election opportunity under the FERCCA?

Yes, your FERS coverage election does not disqualify you from making a retirement coverage election under the FERCCA. You can choose whether you want the FERS election to remain in effect. However, you may not choose whether you want your FERS election to remain in effect if you chose FERS after your employer notified you that you were put in FERS by mistake (see § 839.221).

§ 839.623 - If I decide to keep the FERS election in effect, may I change the effective date of the FERS election?

No, If you decide to keep FERS, the original FERS election will remain unchanged.

authority: Title II, Pub. L. 106-265, 114 Stat. 770
source: 66 FR 15609, Mar. 19, 2001, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 5 CFR 839.621