CSRS FERS

Spouse Benefits - Death of a Former Employee

Chapter 72

Important Notice 

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage 

Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the

United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will now be able to extend 

certain benefits to Federal employees and annuitants who have legally married a 

spouse of the same sex, regardless of the employee’s or annuitant’s state of 

residency. OPM is currently in the process of updating and revising the website to 

reflect this change, and will be updating this information as soon as possible. Please 

check back in the coming weeks for updates.
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS i
 

Chapter 72
 

Table of Contents 

Subchapter 72A FERS 

Part 72A1 General Information 

Section 72A1.1-1 Overview ................................... 1
 

A. Introduction .......................................... 1
 

B. Topics Covered ....................................... 1
 

C. Organization of Subchapter ................................ 2
 

D. Statement of Authority ................................... 2
 

Section 72A1.1-2 Definitions ................................... 3
 

A. Surviving Spouse ...................................... 3
 

B. Former Spouse ....................................... 3
 

C. Lump-Sum Credit ..................................... 3
 

Section 72A1.1-3 Benefits Payable .............................. 4
 

A. General Rule ......................................... 4
 

Part 72A2 Survivor Annuity 

Section 72A2.1-1 Eligibility Requirements .......................... 5
 

A. Eligibility Requirements .................................. 5
 

B. 10-Year Service Requirement .............................. 5
 

C. Former Spouse Court-Ordered Benefits ........................ 6
 

Section 72A2.1-2 Duration of Survivor Annuity ...................... 7
 

A. Beginning Date ....................................... 7
 

B. Ending Date ......................................... 7
 

C. Restoration of Survivor Annuity ............................. 7
 

Section 72A2.1-3 Computation Of Survivor Annuity .................. 9
 

A. Amount of Survivor Annuity .............................. 9
 

B. Unreduced Computation Formula ........................... 9
 

C. Reduced Computation Formula ............................. 9
 

D. Cost-of-Living Adjustments ............................... 10
 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April, 1998 
ii Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72
 

Part 72A3 Procedures 

Section 72A3.1-1 Procedures ................................... 11
 

A. Survivor Responsibility .................................. 11
 

B. OPM Responsibility .................................... 11
 

Subchapter 72B Forms, Job Aids, and Examples 

Part 72B1 Forms 

Section 72B1.1-1 Local Reproduction Forms ........................ 12
 

A. FERS Deceased Former Employee Survivor Worksheet ............. 13
 

Part 72B2 Job Aids 

Section 72B2.1-1 Present Value Conversion Factors ................... 14
 

Chart 1 With at Least 10, but Less Than 20, Years of 

Creditable Service ................................ 14
 

Chart 2 With at Least 20, but Less Than 30, Years of 

Creditable Service ................................ 15
 

Chart 3 With at Least 30 Years of Creditable Service ................... 16
 

Part 72B3 Examples 

Section 72B3.1-1 Example 1 ................................... 17
 

Section 72B3.1-2 Example 2 ................................... 20
 

April, 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 1 

Chapter 72 

Subchapter 72A FERS 

Part 72A1 General Information 

Section 72A1.1-1 Overview 

A.	 Introduction Under CSRS, when employees separate from Federal service and die before 

electing a refund of their lump-sum credit in the Fund or before fulfilling 

all the requirements (including filing an application) for a deferred 

retirement benefit, no survivor annuity is payable to the surviving spouse or 

children. However, a lump sum payment of the employee's lump-sum 

credit may be payable. See Chapter 75, Lump Sum Benefits, for additional 

information. 

Upon the death of a former employee under FERS who did not meet the 

requirements for entitlement to retirement benefits before death, including 

having filed an application, either the former employee's lump-sum credit 

or an annuity may be payable to the appropriate survivor. This chapter 

contains information agencies need to counsel employees and respond to 

their questions about possible benefits for their survivors if they leave 

Government service. 

B. Topics Covered	 1. This subchapter covers: 

•	 The eligibility requirements for a survivor annuity; 

•	 The computation of the survivor annuity; and 

•	 The procedures the survivor must follow to apply for a survivor 

annuity. 

2.	 This chapter does not cover payment of the lump-sum credit. See 

Chapter 75, Lump Sum Benefits, for additional information. 

3.	 The following cases are considered annuitants at the time of death (see 

Chapter 71, Spouse Benefits -- Death of an Annuitant, for further 

information): 

•	 An individual who has separated with eligibility for an immediate 

MRA + 10 benefit but who died before applying. 

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2 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A1.1-1 Overview (Cont.) 

B. Topics Covered • An individual who was eligible for an MRA + 10 benefit, who 

(Cont.) applied for the benefit, but postponed receipt of the benefit is 

considered to be an annuitant at the time of death, even though he 

or she was not receiving monthly benefits. 

C. Organization of This subchapter has three parts: 

Subchapter 

Part Name of Part Page 

72A1 General Information 1 

72A2 Survivor Annuity 5 

72A3 Procedures 11 

D. Statement of This subchapter is based on the law cited below. 

Authority 

• United States Code: 5 U.S.C. 8424 and 8442 

April, 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 3 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A1.1-2 Definitions 

A.	 Surviving Spouse A widow or widower is considered a surviving spouse if he or she meets 

ONE of the following requirements. 

1.	 The surviving spouse and the former employee were married for at 

least 9 months before the death. 

2.	 A child was born of the marriage. For this purpose, child includes: 

•	 A child born posthumously to the deceased former employee and 

spouse; 

•	 A child born to the deceased former employee and spouse before 

they were married; and 

•	 A child of a prior marriage between the deceased former 

employee and spouse. 

3. The death of the former employee was accidental. (See 

5 CFR 843.303(d) for FERS definition of "accidental" death.) 

B. Former Spouse See Chapter 74, Former Spouse Survivor Benefits, section 74A1.1-2C for 

the definition of former spouse. 

C. Lump-Sum See Chapter 75, section 75A1.1-2B for the definition of lump-sum credit. 

Credit 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
4 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A1.1-3 Benefits Payable 

A.	 General Rule If the eligibility requirements outlined in section 72A2.1-1 are met, a 

surviving spouse may elect to receive either -­

•	 a monthly survivor annuity

 or 

•	 the unexpended balance (lump sum credit), if the current spouse is the 

individual who would be entitled to the unexpended balance. 

Otherwise, a lump-sum payment of the former employee's lump-sum credit 

in the Fund is payable to the person(s) eligible in the normal order of 

precedence. See Chapter 75 for more information. 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 5 

Chapter 72 

Part 72A2 Survivor Annuity 

Section 72A2.1-1 Eligibility Requirements 

A.	 Eligibility If the following requirements are met, the surviving spouse is entitled to a 

Requirements survivor annuity. 

1.	 If the surviving spouse met the definition of spouse; 

2.	 If the surviving spouse was married to the former employee on the 

date of his/her separation from Federal service; 

and 

3.	 The former employee had: 

•	 At least 5 years of civilian service covered by deductions or 

deposits and 

•	 A total of at least 10 years of creditable service (see paragraph B 

below). 

B. 10-Year Service
 

Requirement 

The 10-year service requirement includes: 

•	 Civilian and military service for which deductions or deposits are in 

the former employee's retirement account; 

•	 Civilian service for which the survivor makes a deposit; and 

•	 Military service performed before 1957, which does not require a 

deposit. 

NOTE:	 The surviving spouse of a deceased former employee may not 

make a deposit for military service. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
6 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A2.1-1 Eligibility Requirements (Cont.) 

C. Former Spouse Any survivor annuity payable to a surviving spouse is payable to a former 

Court-Ordered spouse instead, if required by a qualifying court order. 

Benefits 

Therefore, if a court awards the total survivor annuity to a former spouse, 

the surviving spouse will receive nothing. If a former spouse was awarded 

only a part of the total survivor annuity, the surviving spouse will receive 

the remainder. In either case, if the former spouse later loses entitlement 

(because of death or remarriage before age 55), the surviving spouse will 

begin to receive the full survivor annuity. 

NOTE: See Chapter 74 for detailed information and procedures. 

April, 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 7 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A2.1-2 Duration of Survivor Annuity 

A.	 Beginning Date The survivor may choose to have the survivor annuity begin on: 

1.	 The day the deceased former employee would have been eligible for an 

unreduced annuity (i.e., the decedent's 62nd birthday with less than 20 

years of service, or the decedent's 60th birthday with 20 or more years 

of service, or the decedent's birthday when he or she would have 

reached the Minimum Retirement Age with 30 years of service); 

OR 

2.	 The day after the date of death of the former employee. 

EXCEPTION:	 The exception is the case of a surviving spouse whose 

entitlement to a survivor annuity depends on the birth of 

a posthumous child. In this case, the earliest date that 

benefits can begin is on the day after the child is born. 

B.	 Ending Date A survivor annuity to a widow or widower ends on the last day of the 

month preceding the month in which he or she: 

1.	 Dies; or 

2.	 Remarries prior to age 55. > For remarriages occurring after 

January 1, 1995, if the widow or widower remarries before age 55, 

and was married at least 30 years to the individual on whose service 

the survivor annuity is based, the survivor annuity will not be 

terminated. < 

C.	 Restoration of An annuity that ended because of remarriage before age 55 may be restored 

Survivor Annuity if the: 

1.	 Remarriage of the widow or widower ends by death, divorce or 

annulment; 

2.	 The widow or widower elects to receive this annuity instead of another 

survivor benefit to which he or she may be entitled (under FERS or 

another retirement system for Government employees) due to the 

remarriage; and 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
8 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A2.1-2 Duration of Survivor Annuity (Cont.) 

C.	 Restoration of 3. The widow or widower pays back any lump-sum benefit paid when the 

Survivor Annuity annuity ended. 

(Cont.) 

EXCEPTION:	 An annuity paid to a former spouse that ended because 

of remarriage cannot be reinstated. 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 9 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A2.1-3 Computation of Survivor Annuity 

A. Amount of 

Survivor Annuity 

The survivor annuity is equal to 50 percent of the deceased former 

employee's basic annuity, if the survivor elects to begin receiving the 

annuity on the date the deceased former employee would have met the age 

and service requirements for an unreduced annuity. The amount of the 

survivor annuity is reduced if the survivor elects to receive the annuity 

beginning the day after death. 

B.	 Unreduced 1. Compute the deceased former employee's annual basic annuity 

Computation (unreduced for survivor benefits) as if he or she had become entitled to 

Formula receive an unreduced deferred annuity. 

2.	 Multiply the former employee's basic annuity by 50 percent to obtain 

the unreduced annual survivor benefit. 

3.	 Divide the unreduced annual survivor benefit by 12 and round to the 

next lower dollar to obtain the unreduced monthly survivor benefit 

payable to the survivor when the former employee would have reached 

the age for deferred retirement benefits. 

C.	 Reduced If the survivor elects to have the survivor annuity begin on the day after the 

Computation former employee's death, the survivor annuity is actuarially reduced as 

Formula follows. 

1.	 Compute the deceased former employee's annual basic annuity 

(unreduced for survivor benefits) as if he or she had become entitled to 

receive an unreduced deferred annuity. 

2.	 Multiply the former employee's basic annuity by 50 percent to obtain 

the unreduced annual survivor benefit. 

3.	 Multiply the appropriate Present Value Conversion Factor (see 

subchapter 72B for present value conversion factors) by the unreduced 

annual survivor benefit. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
10 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72A2.1-3 Computation of Survivor Annuity (Cont.) 

C.	 Reduced 4. Divide the reduced survivor benefit by 12 and round to the next lower 

Computation dollar to obtain the monthly reduced survivor benefit. 

Formula 

(Cont.) NOTE: Subchapter 72B contains a Deceased Former Employee Survivor 

Annuity Worksheet for computing the survivor benefit for both 

possible commencing dates, and examples of survivor annuity 

computations. 

D. Cost-of-Living Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA's) are made only if the survivor annuity 

Adjustments is being paid. Therefore, although a survivor annuity commencing at the 

earlier date is at a lower rate, it increases with COLA's. However, there 

are no COLA's applied to the annuity commencing at the later date until 

after it actually commences. 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 11 

Chapter 72 

Part 72A3 Procedures 

Section 72A3.1-1 Procedures 

A. Survivor Survivors should be advised to report the death to OPM and request an 

Responsibility	 application for death benefits. The survivor should correspond directly 

with OPM at this address. 

Office of Personnel Management 

Retirement Operations Center 

Boyers, PA 16017 

B. OPM OPM determines what benefits are payable and, depending upon the type of 

Responsibility	 benefit and the circumstances in a particular case, may request the applicant 

to submit additional evidence. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
12 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Subchapter 72B Forms, Job Aids and Examples 

Part 72B1 Forms 

Section 72B1.1-1 Forms for Local Reproduction 

A.	 FERS Deceased The "Deceased FERS Former Employee Survivor Annuity Worksheet" 

Former Employee located on the following page is to be locally reproduced. 

Survivor 

Worksheet 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 

 13
 

FERS
 

DECEASED FORMER EMPLOYEE
 

SURVIVOR ANNUITY WORKSHEET
 

A. COMPUTE UNREDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

1. Unreduced Annual Basic Annuity $ 

2. Multiply by 50% X .50 

3. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity $ 

4. UNREDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 

B. COMPUTE REDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY
 

1. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity (From A3 above) $ 

1. Multiply by the Present Value Conversion Factor X 

3. Annual Survivor Annuity Reduced 

for Early Commencing Date 

$ 

4. REDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 

For local reproduction 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April, 1998
 

 

14 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Part 72B2 Job Aids 

Section 72B2.1-1 Present Value Conversion Factors 

NOTE:	 These factors change periodically. Refer to Appendix A of 5 

CFR 843, subpart C for the current present value conversion 

factors. 

CHART 1 

With at Least 10, but Less Than 20, Years of Creditable Service 

Former Employee's Former Employee's 

Age at Death Multiplier Age at Death Multiplier 

26 .0280 46 .1920 

27 .0309 47 .2121 

28 .0340 48 .2346 

29 .0375 49 .2597 

30 .0413 50 .2878 

31 .0454 51 .3193 

32 .0500 52 .3544 

33 .0550 53 .3934 

34 .0605 54 .4365 

35 .0665 55 .4842 

36 .0731 56 .5367 

37 .0804 57 .5948 

38 .0884 58 .6591 

39 .0973 59 .7305 

40 .1071 60 .8103 

41 .1179 61 .8996 

42 .1298
 

43 .1430 

44 .1577 

45 .1739 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 

Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 15
 

Chapter 72
 

Section 72B2.1-1 Present Value Conversion Factors (Cont.) 

CHART 2
 

With at Least 20, but Less Than 30, Years of Creditable Service 

Former Employee's Former Employee's 

Age at Death Multiplier Age at Death Multiplier 

36 .0901 51 .3936 

37 .0991 52 .4369 

38 .1090 53 .4851 

39 .1199 54 .5383 

40 .1319 55 .5971 

41 .1452 56 .6620 

42 .1600 57 .7337 

43 .1762 58 .8131 

44 .1943 59 .9015 

45 .2144 

46 .2367 

47 .2615 

48 .2892 

49 .3202 

50 .3548 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April, 1998 
16 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72
 

Section 72B2.1-1 Present Value Conversion Factors (Cont.) 

CHART 3
 

With at Least 30 Years of Creditable Service 

Multiplier by Separated Employee's Year of Birth 

Former 

Employee's After From 1949 Before 

Age at Death 1964 to 1964 1949
 

46 .3224 .3573 .3962 

47 .3562 .3948 .4378 

48 .3940 .4367 .4842 

49 .4362 .4835 .5361 

50 .4835 .5359 .5942 

51 .5363 .5945 .6592 

52 .5954 .6599 .7317 

53 .6610 .7327 .8124 

54 .7336 .8132 .9017 

55 .8139 .9021 --

56 .9023 -- --

April, 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 17 

Chapter 72 

Part 72B3 Examples 

Section 72B3.1-1 Example 1 

Example 1: FERS former employee death at age 60 with 15 years creditable service 

Jack, born May 20, 1936, separated from Federal service in 1988 while covered under FERS at age 52 

with 15 years of creditable service. He dies in 1996 at age 60 with a high-3 average salary of $32,000. 

His annual basic annuity before reduction for survivor annuity would have been $4,800. His surviving 

spouse may elect to receive: 

•	 A lump sum payment of Jack's lump-sum credit in the Fund; 

or 

•	 An unreduced survivor annuity beginning on the date Jack would have reached age 62; 

or 

• A reduced survivor annuity beginning the day after death. 

The unreduced survivor annuity is calculated as follows. 

A.	 Using the FERS Deceased Former Employee Survivor Annuity Worksheet (Part A) located in 

section 72B1.1-1, compute the unreduced survivor annuity. 

1.	 Enter the former employee's annual basic annuity before reduction for survivor annuity 

($4,800). 

2.	 Multiply the amount in A1 ($4,800) by 50 percent to obtain the unreduced annual survivor 

annuity ($2,400). 

3.	 Divide the unreduced annual survivor annuity by 12 and round to the next lower dollar to 

obtain the unreduced monthly survivor annuity ($200). 

B.	 The reduced survivor annuity is calculated as follows, using Part B of the same worksheet. 

1.	 Enter the unreduced annual survivor annuity from line A3 on the worksheet ($2,400). 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
 

 

18 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Example 1, Continued 

2.	 Enter the Present Value Conversion Factor (.8103) obtained by using the Present Value 

Conversion Factor--Chart 1 (With at Least 10, but Less Than 20, Years of Creditable Service) 

located in section 72B2.1-1. 

3.	 Multiply the Present Value Conversion Factor (.8103) by the unreduced annual survivor 

annuity ($2,400) to obtain the annual survivor annuity reduced for early commencing date 

($1,944.72). 

4.	 Divide the reduced annual survivor annuity ($1,944.72) by 12 and round to the next lower 

dollar to obtain the reduced monthly survivor annuity ($162). 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 

 19
 

FERS
 

DECEASED FORMER EMPLOYEE
 

SURVIVOR ANNUITY WORKSHEET
 

A. COMPUTE UNREDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

1. Unreduced Annual Basic Annuity $ 4,800 

2. Multiply by 50% X .50 

3. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity $ 2,400 

4. UNREDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 200 

B. COMPUTE REDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY
 

1. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity (from A3 above) $ 2,400 

1. Multiply by the Present Value Conversion Factor X .8103 

3. Annual Survivor Annuity Reduced 

for Early Commencing Date 

$1,944.72 

4. REDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 162 

For local reproduction 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April, 1998
20 Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 

Chapter 72 

Section 72B3.1-2 Example 2 

Example 2: FERS former employee death at age 54 with 30 years of creditable service 

Janet, born February 1, 1941, separated from Federal service in 1993 while covered under FERS at age 

52 with 30 years of creditable service. She dies in 1995 at age 54 with a high-3 average salary of 

$35,000. Her annual basic annuity before reduction for survivor annuity would have been $10,500. 

Her surviving spouse may elect to receive: 

•	 A lump sum payment of Janet's lump-sum credit in the Fund; 

or 

•	 An unreduced survivor annuity beginning on the date Janet would have reached age 55; 

or 

• A reduced survivor annuity beginning the day after death. 

The unreduced survivor annuity is calculated as follows. 

A.	 Using the FERS Deceased Former Employee Survivor Annuity Worksheet (Part A) located in 

section 72B1.1-1, compute the unreduced survivor annuity. 

1.	 Enter the former employee's annual basic annuity before reduction for survivor annuity 

($10,500). 

2.	 Multiply the amount in A1 ($10,500) by 50 percent to obtain the unreduced annual survivor 

annuity ($5,250). 

3.	 Divide the unreduced annual survivor annuity by 12 and round to the next lower dollar to 

obtain the unreduced monthly survivor annuity ($437). 

April, 1998	 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
Spouse Benefits -- Death of a Former Employee FERS 21 

Chapter 72 

Example 2, Continued 

B.	 The reduced survivor annuity is calculated as follows, using Part B of the same worksheet. 

1.	 Enter the unreduced annual survivor annuity from line A3 on the worksheet ($5,250). 

2.	 Enter the Present Value Conversion Factor (.9017) obtained by using the Present Value 

Conversion Factor--Chart 3 (With at Least 30 Years of Creditable Service) located in section 

72B2.1-1. 

3.	 Multiply the Present Value Conversion Factor (.9017) by the unreduced annual survivor 

annuity ($5,250) to obtain the annual survivor annuity reduced for early commencing date 

($4,733.93). 

4.	 Divide the reduced annual survivor annuity ($4,733.93) by 12 to obtain the reduced monthly 

survivor annuity ($394). 

CSRS and FERS Handbook	 April, 1998 
 

22 

FERS
 

DECEASED FORMER EMPLOYEE
 

SURVIVOR ANNUITY WORKSHEET
 

A. COMPUTE UNREDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

1. Unreduced Annual Basic Annuity $ 10,500 

2. Multiply by 50% X .50 

3. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity $ 5,250 

4. UNREDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 437 

B. COMPUTE REDUCED SURVIVOR ANNUITY
 

1. Unreduced Annual Survivor Annuity (From A3 above) $ 5,250 

1. Multiply by the Present Value Conversion Factor X .9017 

3. Annual Survivor Annuity Reduced 

for Early Commencing Date 

$ 4,733.93 

4. REDUCED MONTHLY SURVIVOR ANNUITY 

(Divide by 12 and round down) 

$ 394 

For local reproduction 

April, 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook