USEFUL LINKS:

OPM Retirement Information and Services - http://www.opm.gov/retire/index.asp

 Pre-retirement Planning:

   Retirement Eligibility - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq11.asp

    Retirement Estimator - http://www.opm.gov/benefits/ballpark/menu.asp

    Five Years Before Retirement - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq9.asp

    One Year before Retirement - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq10.asp

    Six Months Before Retirement - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq12.asp

    Two Months Before Retirement - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq13.asp

   Applying For Retirement - http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq8.asp

 Death Benefits:  

   Reporting a Death: http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq4.asp

    Applying for Benefits:  http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq4.asp#benefits

 Research Missing Members:

    Social Security Death Index:  http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/

    Switchboard White Pages:  http://switchboard.intelius.com/?PHPSESSID=a3fac35926f67438ccb1a6b29945143b  You may have a favorite that works just as well.  This one also has the option of searching public records.

    You may also be able to search property records for the area(s) where the member might be.  For example, this is the site for Brevard County Florida:  http://brevardpropertyappraiser.com/asp/record.asp