---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 551.704"
title: "5"
number: "551.704"
heading: "Claimant's representative."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/551.704"
---

# §551.704. Claimant's representative.


A claimant may designate a representative to assist in preparing or presenting a claim. The claimant must designate the representative in writing. A representative may not participate in OPM interviews unless specifically requested to do so by OPM. An agency may disallow a claimant's representative who is a Federal employee in any of the following circumstances:

- (a) When the individual's activities as a representative would cause a conflict of interest or position;
- (b) When the designated representative cannot be released from his or her official duties because of the priority needs of the Government; or
- (c) When the release of the designated representative would give rise to unreasonable costs to the Government.

## Notes

### Source

Source: 72 FR 52774, Sept. 17, 2007, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5542(c); Sec. 4(f) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended by Pub. L. 93-259, 88 Stat. 55 (29 U.S.C. 204f). Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 48238, July 31, 2026.