Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=sp5.2.838.g&rgn=div6
Timestamp: 2020-02-25 19:46:07
Document Index: 409373832

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§843', '§831', '§842', '§843', '§843', '§843', '§838', '§838', '§838', '§843', '§843', '§843']

Title 5 → Chapter I → Subchapter B → Part 838 → Subpart G
§838.701 Purpose and scope.
§838.711 Maximum former spouse survivor annuity.
§838.721 Application requirements.
§838.722 OPM action on receipt of a court order acceptable for processing.
§838.723 OPM action on receipt of a court order not acceptable for processing.
§838.724 Contesting the validity of court orders.
§838.731 Commencing date of payments.
§838.732 Termination of entitlement.
§838.734 Payment of lump-sum awards by survivor annuity.
§838.735 Cost-of-living adjustments.
(a) This subpart regulates the procedures that the Office of Personnel Management will follow upon the receipt of claims arising out of State court orders awarding former spouse survivor annuities under CSRS or FERS (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter). OPM must comply with qualifying court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriages, or legal separations of employees or retirees that award former spouse survivor annuities.
(1) The commencing and terminating dates of former spouse survivor annuities based on court orders acceptable for processing; and
(2) The procedures that a former spouse must follow when applying for a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order under section 8341(h) or section 8445 of title 5, United States Code.
(c)(1) Subpart H of this part contains the rules that a court order must satisfy to be a court order acceptable for processing to award a former spouse survivor annuity.
(2) Subpart I of this part contains definitions that OPM uses to determine the effect of a court order in connection with a former spouse survivor annuity.
(a) Under CSRS, payments under a court order may not exceed the amount provided in §831.641 of this chapter.
(b) Under FERS, payments under a court order may not exceed amount provided in §842.613 of this chapter plus the basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter.
(a)(1) A former spouse (personally or through a representative) must apply in writing to be eligible for a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing. No special form is required to give OPM notice of the court order.
(2) OPM may require an additional application after the death of the employee, separated employee, or retiree. This additional application will be on a form prescribed by OPM.
(b)(1) The application letter under paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be accompanied by—
(i) A certified copy of the court order;
(ii) A certification from the former spouse or the former spouse's representative that the court order is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside;
(iii) Information sufficient for OPM to identify the employee or retiree, such as his or her full name, CSRS or FERS claim number, date of birth, and social security number;
(iv) The current mailing address of the former spouse;
(v) If the employee has not retired or died, the mailing address of the employee; and
(vi) A statement in the form prescribed by OPM certifying—
(A) That the former spouse has not remarried before age 55;
(B) That the former spouse will notify OPM within 15 calendar days of the occurrence of any remarriage before age 55; and
(C) That the former spouse will be personally liable for any overpayment to him or her resulting from a remarriage before age 55.
(2) OPM may subsequently require recertification of the statements required by this paragraph.
(a) If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity based on the service of a living retiree, OPM will inform—
(ii) Of the date on which OPM received the court order; and
(iii) Of the present amount of the monthly former spouse survivor annuity if the retiree were to die immediately and the formula OPM used to compute the monthly benefit; and
(2) The retiree—
(iv) Of the amount and commencing date of the reduction in the retiree's annuity;
(v) Of the present amount of the monthly former spouse survivor annuity if the retiree were to die immediately and the formula OPM used to compute the amount of the former spouse survivor annuity; and
(vi) That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse.
(b) If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity, but the employee, separated employee, or retiree has died, OPM will inform—
(ii) Of the date on which OPM received the court order, the date on which the former spouse's benefit will begin to accrue, and if known the date on which OPM will commence payment under the court order; and
(iii) Of the amount on the monthly former spouse survivor annuity and the formula OPM used to compute the former spouse survivor annuity.
(2) Anyone whom OPM knows will be adversely affected by the court order—
(iv) How the court order may adversely affect him or her; and
(v) That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse.
(c) If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity and the employee or separated employee has not retired or died, OPM will attempt to inform—
(ii) To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse survivor annuity (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter, if applicable); and
(iii) That, if he or she disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount before the employee or separated employee retires or dies; and
(ii) That the court order is acceptable for processing and the OPM must comply with the court order;
(iii) To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse survivor annuity (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter, if applicable); and
(iv) That, if he or she—
(A) Contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse; or
(B) Disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount before he or she retires or dies.
(d) The failure of OPM to provide, or of the employee, separated employee, or retiree, the former spouse, or anyone else to receive, the information specified in this section does not affect—
(2) The commencing date of the reduction in the employee annuity or the commencing date of the former spouse's entitlement as determined under §838.731.
If OPM receives an application from a former spouse not based on a court order acceptable for processing, OPM will inform the former spouse that OPM cannot approve the application and provide the specific reason(s) for disapproving the application. Examples of reasons for disapproving an application include that the order does not meet the definition of court order in §838.103 or does not meet one or more of the requirements of subpart H of this part.
(a) An employee, retiree or person adversely affected by a court order who alleges that a court order is invalid must prove the invalidity of the court order by submitting to OPM a court order that—
(b) OPM must honor a court order acceptable for processing that appears to be valid and that the former spouse has certified is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside, until the employee, separated employee, retiree, or person adversely affected by the court order submits to OPM a court order described in paragraph (a) of this section or, if issued before the retirement or death of the employee or separated employee, a court order acceptable for processing amending or superseding the court order submitted by the former spouse.
(a) A former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing begins to accrue in accordance with the terms of the court order but no earlier than the later of—
(1) The first day after the date of death of the employee, separated employee, or retiree; or
(2) The first day of the second month after OPM receives a copy of the court order acceptable for processing.
(b) OPM will not authorize payment of the former spouse survivor annuity until it receives an application and supporting documentation required under §838.721.
(a) A former spouse survivor annuity (other than the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter) or the right to a future former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing terminates in accordance with the terms of the court order but no later than the last day of the month before the former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies.
(b) If the employee dies before the former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies, the former spouse's entitlement to the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter based on a court order acceptable for processing terminates in accordance with the terms of the court order.
OPM will not honor court orders awarding lump-sum payments (other than the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in §843.102 of this chapter) to a former spouse upon the death of an employee or retiree.
(a) OPM applies cost-of-living adjustments to all former spouse survivor annuities in pay status at the time of the adjustment and in the amount provided by Federal statute.
(b) OPM will not honor provisions of a court order that alters the time or amount of cost-of-living adjustments or that attempts to prevent OPM from applying cost-of-living adjustments to a former spouse survivor annuity in pay status.