Married CSRS employees*  may elect these survivor benefits options at

retirement:

Current Spouse

• Full survivor annuity for current spouse (55% of full annuity).

• Less than full or no survivor annuity with consent of spouse (55% of

  selected base up to the full annuity amount).

• "Insurable

  Interest" survivor annuity for current spouse if a survivor annuity has been

  awarded by a qualifying court order to a former spouse, or to provide for

  someone else.

• Combination current/former spouse annuity with consent of current

  spouse.

* Survivors are eligible to receive an annuity if they have been married at

least 9 months, are the natural parent of your child, or death was

accidental.

Former Spouse

• To provide a former spouse a survivor annuity, you must have been ordered by

  the court or elect former spouse benefits, and

• Have been married at least 9 months,

• Have performed at least 18 months of creditable service

A former spouse is defined as a person whose marriage was terminated to an

employee on or after May 7, 1985, or who was a spouse of a retiree who retired

on or after May 7, 1985, regardless of the date of termination of

marriage.  The annuity is computed in the same way as a current spouse

survivor annuity.  OPM must receive a certified copy of your court

order, showing original seal or stamp of the court. 

Unmarried CSRS employees may elect these survivor benefits

options at retirement:

• No survivor benefit

• "Insurable

  interest" survivor annuity

• Full or partial survivor annuity for former spouse

• Combination insurable interest/former spouse survivor annuity

Note:  If you marry after retirement, you may elect, within 2 years

after the marriage, a reduced annuity to provide a current spouse benefit. 

The reduction in your annuity is effective no earlier than the first of the

month beginning 9 months after the date of marriage.  The premiums paid are

retroactive to your date of retirement.  This deposit is paid by a

permanent actuarial reduction.