Name a new survivor or change

the election you made at retirement

Under certain conditions, you

can name a new survivor or change the election you made at retirement if you

file a new election by writing OPM no later than 30 days after the date of your

first regular monthly payment.

Provide or increase a survivor

benefit for the spouse you were married to at retirement

If you were married at retirement and either did not

provide or elected less than the full survivor annuity for your spouse, you may,

within 18 months after retirement, elect an annuity reduction to provide or

increase the survivor benefit if you are still married to the same person. By

law, you also must pay a deposit equal to the amount by which your annuity would

have been reduced had the election been made at retirement plus an amount equal

to 24.5 percent of the increase in the base designated for the survivor annuity.

Interest is charged on the deposit.

Provide a survivor annuity benefit for a spouse

you marry after retirement

If your annuity began on or after May 7, 1985, or if you

marry on or after February 27, 1986 (regardless of the date on which your

annuity began), you may elect to provide a survivor annuity for a spouse you

marry after retirement as described below. If you make this election, your

monthly annuity will be reduced.  The Office of Personnel Management

(OPM) will send you detailed information about your reduced annuity when

you notify them you want to make this election.

If you were unmarried at retirement and married

afterward, you must notify OPM in writing within two years after the

marriage if you want to provide a survivor annuity benefit. The reduction in

your annuity begins no earlier than the first of the month beginning 9 months

after the marriage date.

If you were married at retirement, experience the end of

the marriage (through death, divorce, or annulment), and marry again, you must

notify OPM in writing within two years after the marriage if you want to elect a

reduction in your annuity to provide a survivor annuity for your new spouse. The

reduction in your annuity begins no earlier than 9 months after the marriage

date.

Source:  OPM RI 20-59