Opinion ID: 175547
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Survivor Annuity Election for a Former Spouse

Text: Eligibility and Time Limits  With some exceptions, retirees are eligible to elect or reelect a reduced annuity to provide a survivor annuity for a former spouse if they timely submit an election to OPM 1) within 2 years after the date the marriage ended by divorce or annulment or 2) within 2 years after the date another former spouse loses entitlement to a potential survivor annuity. Please note that a new survivor annuity election is required within 2 years after the divorce if you wish to provide a former spouse annuity, even if at retirement you elected to provide a survivor annuity for that spouse. The law provides for the continuation of a survivor reduction made at retirement after divorce if the annuitant reelects a survivor annuity for the former spouse within 2 years of the divorce. Continuing the survivor reduction, by itself, does not demonstrate an unmistakable intent to make a former spouse survivor election. J.A. 19, 21. Mr. Downing did not file an election to provide Ms. Downing with a survivor annuity after their divorce. After Mr. Downing died on March 13, 2008, Ms. Downing filed an application with OPM seeking survivor annuity benefits. OPM denied Ms. Downing's original request as well as her request for reconsideration. Ms. Downing unsuccessfully appealed the reconsideration decision to the Board. The administrative judge concluded that Mr. Downing did not expressly provide survivor annuity or post-death benefits to Ms. Downing in the divorce decree, and even if Mr. Downing intended for Ms. Downing to receive survivor benefits, it is not binding on OPM. Further, he determined that OPM adequately notified Mr. Downing of the requirement that he must file a reelection, but he did not reelect to provide his former wife with survivor benefits within two years of their divorce. Ms. Downing did not appeal this initial decision and it became the final decision of the Board. Ms. Downing timely petitions for review. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(9).