OPM Combines Forms to Ease Student Benefit Proof for Orphans
Published Date: 3/9/2026
Notice
Summary
If you’re a surviving adult child between 18 and 22 and a full-time student, this update affects you! The Office of Personnel Management wants to combine two school attendance forms into one simpler form to make it easier to prove you’re still in school and keep getting survivor benefits. They’re asking for your thoughts by May 8, 2026, so get ready to share your feedback!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Combine Two School Forms
OPM is proposing to combine two forms (RI 25-41 and RI 25-49) into one form used for both initial certification and annual verification that a surviving adult child is a full-time student. This affects unmarried surviving adult children ages 18 through 22 who must show they are full-time students to receive survivor annuity benefits; OPM is asking for comments by May 8, 2026.
Current Paperwork Time Burden
OPM reports current paperwork burden for the two forms: RI 25-41 has 1,200 respondents at 90 minutes each (total 1,800 burden hours) and RI 25-49 has 10,000 respondents at 60 minutes each (total 10,000 burden hours). OPM is asking whether consolidation would reduce this respondent burden and for estimates of any burden change.
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Key Dates
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