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An official website of the United States Government.

Frequently Asked Questions Retirement

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May I receive benefits if I am the ex-spouse of someone who died while working for the Federal Government?

Recurring monthly payments may be made to the former spouse of a deceased employee under a court order. A former spouse must also meet the nine month marriage requirement. For additional information about court-ordered benefits, refer to the pamphlet, "Court-Ordered Benefits for Former SpousesPDF file [7 MB]."

See how the amount of the former spouse survivor benefit is determined.

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