5 CFR § 841.304 - Applications filed with OPM.

(a) Separated employees filing applications for retirement or refunds of contributions; survivors filing applications for death benefits based on the deaths of separated employees, retirees, or survivors; and retirees making elections or seeking to change information in their retirement records must file their applications with OPM.

(b) Survivors filing applications for death benefits based on the death of an employee may file their applications with OPM.