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Under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), a retiree can elect to provide less than the maximum survivor benefit. A partial survivor election is based on 55% of the annual base amount you choose. For example, if you choose a survivor base of $3,600, the benefit will be 55% of $3,600 for a survivor benefit of $1,980 per year or $165 per month. By law, you must attach SF-2801-2, Spouse’s Consent to Survivor Election to your CSRS application. The SF-2801-2 must be signed by your spouse in the presence of a notary.
Under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), individuals can elect a partial survivor benefit which is based on 25% of one’s unreduced annual base annuity. Your spouse must complete and attach SF-3107-2, Spouse’s Consent to Survivor Election, to your retirement application.
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The
Direct Express® card provides the advantages of direct deposit without requiring a bank account or credit check and is an option for those who prefer a prepaid debit card recommended by the Treasury Department:
- Fast and Easy –Federal benefit payments go straight into the Direct Express® card account on payment day each month. There’s no need to wait for the mail to arrive or to make a special trip to cash a check.
- Safe – There’s no risk of lost or stolen checks, no need to carry large amounts of cash, and card account balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to the maximum allowed by law.
- Convenient – Use the card to make everyday purchases everywhere Debit MasterCard® is accepted. Make purchases, pay bills, buy money orders and get cash at thousands of locations nationwide. Use the card 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(Visit
www.GoDirect.org for more information about fees and the surcharge-free network.)
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The
Go Direct campaign has been involved with many of the most significant financial literacy efforts currently in force across the country, including:
- The Bank On Program
- FDIC Alliance for Economic Inclusion
- FDIC Money Smart Curriculum
- Money Smart Week
In addition, during the campaign’s long tenure it has developed relationships with local financial literacy coalition leaders, positioning the
Go Direct campaign as a dependable community financial education resource in communities around the country.
(Visit
www.GoDirect.org for more information about fees and the surcharge-free network.)
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Only you and the unmarried dependent children born to or adopted by you and your former spouse (the Federal employee or annuitant) are covered.
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Generally, if you cancel your spouse equity enrollment, you may not reenroll. However, if you cancel because you:
• become covered as an employee or a family member under another person’s FEHB enrollment,
or
• become covered under a Medicare HMO or Medicaid, you may reenroll if you lose the other coverage. You must provide documentation of the other coverage when you cancel your spouse equity enrollment.
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There is no cost to provide a survivor benefit for an unmarried dependent child.
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You must apply within 60 days of:
• the date your marriage ended, or
• the date the employing office notified you that your qualifying court order (or your former spouse’s election) entitled you to coverage, whichever is later.
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The types of benefits payable are current spouse survivor annuities, former spouse annuities voluntarily elected or awarded by court order in divorces granted on/after May 7, 1985; or a one-time lump sum benefit.
Under FERS, a basic employee death benefit may be payable to the surviving widow or widower of an employee who dies while employed.
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Spouse Equity:
1. If you qualify for spouse equity, you can elect FEHB coverage in your own right.
2. Your coverage continues indefinitely, as long as you continue to meet the requirements and pay your premiums.
3. You must pay both the employee and government shares of your plan’s FEHB premium.
TCC:
1. Your coverage is limited. It will end 36 months after your divorce or annulment, or earlier if you do not pay your premiums.
2. You must pay both the employee and government shares of your plan’s FEHB premium, plus an administrative charge equal to 2% of total plan premiums.
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The employing office has 14 days to notify you of your TCC rights and send you an election form. You must return the election form and a certified copy of your divorce decree within 60 days from your divorce date or 65 days after the date of the employing office notice, whichever is later. Your coverage will be effective the day after your 31-day extension of coverage as a family member ends.
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Generally, an unmarried dependent child who is over age 18 can receive a survivor benefit if incapable of self-support due to an injury or medical condition which occurs before turning age 18. After turning age 18, an unmarried dependent child can receive a survivor benefit if enrolled in a recognized school on a full-time basis until age 22.
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The time limit for notification is 60 days from your divorce or annulment. Either you or your former spouse must notify the employing office in writing that you want TCC. If your former spouse is retired, notify the retirement system.
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If married at the time of retirement, and you decide not to provide a survivor benefit, your spouse must sign the Spouse’s Consent to your Election in the presence of a notary or other authorized official. To avoid a delay in processing, the document (SF-2801-2 for CSRS or SF-3107-2 for FERS) must accompany your application for retirement. The consent requirement can only be waived under certain circumstances such as when the spouse’s whereabouts are unknown.
A decision not to provide a survivor benefit becomes final 30 days after the date of your first regular payment.
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Applying for spouse equity coverage is a three-step process:
1. You must notify your former spouse’s employing office in writing that you want to apply for spouse equity coverage;
2. You must ask your former spouse’s retirement system to determine if you qualify based on either your court order or your former spouse’s survivor annuity election when he/she retired. The employing office will tell you how to request this determination;
3. Send this determination to the employing office. If you qualify for coverage, it will send you a health benefits election form so you can choose a health benefits plan and option. The employing office will initiate your enrollment when it receives your completed form.
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No. According to the FEHB law, if you or your former spouse didn’t notify the employing office within the 60-day limit, your opportunity to elect TCC ends 60 days after your divorce or annulment.
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