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

Heading: Surviving Spouse

Text: Name: Billye D. Social Security Number: [XXX-XX-XXXX] Date of Birth: [xx/xx/xxxx] Current Gross Monthly Survivor Annuity: $2453.00 App. to Pet'r's Br., Tab 4, Item No. 3. This notice did not contain the critical information on which OPM now relies, i.e., that the election would be nullified by divorce, although this information could easily have been included in this conspicuous personal notice rather than buried in the fine print of the 10-page general instructions to the retirement form among lots of inapplicable information. OPM was notified of the divorce, and split the (reduced) annuity between Mr. and Mrs. Downingbut gave no notice concerning the need to reiterate the survivor election that supported the reduced annuity. There was no notice that the irrevocable survivor annuity election would be revoked unless re-elected, even as OPM continued to implement the election by reducing the annuity that was paid before Mr. Downing's death. Here, there had been an explicit written election at the time of retirement, while the divorce was pending. Mr. Downing's election was irrevocable without Mrs. Downing's consent, and no such consent was manifested, or included in the divorce decree or any other document. OPM's obligation is to give effect to the clear intent of the retiree. Here the intent was clear. OPM's obligation to Mr. Downing, and to all federal employees, is to assure that their intentions on retirement, and upon death, are conscientiously respected and carried out.