How does FERS survivor benefit work?
When a FERS employee dies, the surviving spouse is eligible for a lump-sum death benefit equal to 50% of the deceased's current salary plus a one-time payment of $34,991. (Note that this is the approved amount for 2021, but it's adjusted annually for inflation.)
How much is the federal employee death benefit?
The spouse may be eligible for the Basic Employee Death Benefit, which is equal to 50% of the employee's final salary (average salary, if higher), plus $15,000 (increased by Civil Service Retirement System cost-of-living adjustments beginning 12/1/87).
What is the difference between survivor benefits and death benefits?
A survivor benefit is paid as a monthly amount to a qualifying survivor. The death benefit is usually paid in a lump sum to someone you name on your Beneficiary Designation who may or may not be a family member.
Who qualifies survivor benefits?
A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if they have a disability). A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances. A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased's child who is under age 16 or has a disability and receiving child's benefits.
What is the difference between survivor benefits and widow benefits?
It is important to note a key difference between survivor benefits and spousal benefits. Spousal retirement benefits provide a maximum 50% of the other spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA). Alternatively, survivors' benefits are a maximum 100% of the deceased spouse's retirement benefit.
How long does survivor benefits last?
for lifeGenerally, spouses and ex-spouses become eligible for survivor benefits at age 60 — 50 if they are disabled — provided they do not remarry before that age. These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit.
When a spouse dies does the survivor get their Social Security?
A surviving spouse can collect 100 percent of the late spouse's benefit if the survivor has reached full retirement age, but the amount will be lower if the deceased spouse claimed benefits before he or she reached full retirement age.
Can I collect both my Social Security and my deceased spouse's?
Social Security will not combine a late spouse's benefit and your own and pay you both. When you are eligible for two benefits, such as a survivor benefit and a retirement payment, Social Security doesn't add them together but rather pays you the higher of the two amounts.
Does spouse get federal pension after death?
Under FERS, a basic employee death benefit may be payable to the surviving widow, widower, or former spouse of an employee who dies while employed.
Can you be denied survivor benefits?
If you are a minor convicted of intentionally causing your parent's death, you may be denied survivor benefits on the earnings record of your parent.
Can I collect survivor benefits and my own benefits?
Social Security allows you to claim both a retirement and a survivor benefit at the same time, but the two won't be added together to produce a bigger payment; you will receive the higher of the two amounts. You would be, in effect, simply claiming the bigger benefit.
Can I collect survivor benefits and still work?
You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced. The amount that your benefits are reduced, however, isn't truly lost.
As a retiree, what kind of benefits are payable to my survivor?
The types of benefits payable are: Current spouse survivor annuity Former spouse annuity that is voluntarily elected or awarded by a court order in...
What is a full survivor benefit?
If you retire under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), the maximum survivor benefit payable is 55 percent of your unreduced annual benefit...
What elections can I make when I retire to provide a survivor benefit for my spouse?
In the event of your death, you can make one of the following elections: No survivor benefit A partially reduced annuity A fully reduced annuity Th...
When will survivor benefits to my spouse end?
Monthly annuity payments to a surviving spouse generally continue for life unless your spouse remarries before age 55. If your spouse was married t...
How do I elect a survivor benefit for my former spouse?
You can only make your survivor benefit elections for current and/or former spouses when you retire, or based on a qualifying event after retiremen...
How do I provide a survivor benefit for my new spouse?
If you get married after retirement, you can elect a reduced annuity to provide a survivor annuity for your spouse. You must make this election wit...
What is an insurable interest survivor benefit election?
If you're in good health and you retire for reasons other than disability, you can elect to provide a survivor annuity to someone with an insurable...
Who is considered eligible to receive an insurable interest survivor benefit?
You can elect to provide an insurable interest annuity only for someone who has an insurable interest in you. "Insurable interest" is an insurance...
How is the insurable interest survivor benefit calculated?
The benefit is provided by reducing the retiree's annuity. This means the retiree's monthly annuity payment will be less than the full amount had t...
Your Guide to Federal Employee Survivor Benefits
Federal employees have a whole raft of benefits that touch on everything from retirement savings and pensions to health, life and long term care insurance. But what happens to those benefits when you die? No one likes to think about death, but it’s crucial that you know how your benefits will be distributed to your surviving spouse or children.
Thrift Savings Plan
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution retirement account for federal employees.
FERS Survivor Benefits
The Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) is a defined benefit plan that pays out a pension upon retirement. This is an annuity that provides an annual payment of a certain percentage of your most recent salary, depending on your age and years of service in a federal job.
FEGLI Benefits
Federal Employee Group Life Insurance is an additional benefit that provides life insurance to federal employees. These benefits are designed to be paid out when you die, so the survivor benefits are much more straightforward. All funds are distributed to your designated beneficiary upon your death.
FEHB Benefits
The Federal Employees Health Benefits program is the health insurance plan for federal employees and their families. When a federal employee dies, surviving family members covered under the Self and Family plan can continue their coverage as long as they are eligible for a FERS Survivor Annuity.
Social Security
The Social Security Administration also provides benefits to survivors. It can be easy to lose sight of your Social Security eligibility in the midst of all the other benefits, but it’s also important. To be eligible for survivor benefits, you will have to have earned a certain number of work credits based on your age at the time of your death.
How to Get Help
Thinking about death is difficult, but it’s crucial to plan for your family’s wellbeing. If you’re a federal employee with questions about your benefits, please reach out.
SURVIVOR'S GUIDE
Survivors must report deaths to OPM to continue their annuity after a retiree passes on or to stop the annuity for the surviving spouse when he or she dies. You must also process survivor benefit changes, cash in insurance policies, and change asset registrations .
Survivor's Checklist
This free checklist outlines the key information your heirs will need at a critical and stressful time. All federal employees and retirees should download this form, fill in the information needed, and file it with your estate plans or in your retirement file.
Reporting the Death of Annuitant or Survivor
Complete the appropriate Application for Death Benefits ( SF 2800 (PDF file) for CSRS or SF 3104 (PDF file) and SF 3104B (PDF file) for FERS) and attach any other forms and/or evidence as the application or circumstances require.
Resources
OPM publishes two informative booklets for FERS and CSRS survivors. You can download the PDF files here and print them out on your computer. I recommend placing a copy of the booklet for the system you retired under in your Survivor's Binder or store a copy with your will.
What happens if you are required to provide a full survivor benefit to your former spouse?
If you are required to provide a full survivor benefit to your former spouse – then there is nothing left for your current spouse to receive.
How much does a survivor receive from FERS?
If you choose the full FERS survivor annuity option – your survivor will receive 50% of your monthly pension after you pass away. There is a cost to this benefit. In most cases, it is 10% of your regular monthly FERS pension. This is a permanent reduction to your FERS pension. The 10% will be deducted from your retirement pension each month ...
How much of your FERS pension will you receive after you pass away?
With this option, your survivor will receive 25% of your monthly pension after you pass away. In most cases, the cost for this benefit is 5% of your regular FERS pension. Again – this reduction to your FERS pension is permanent. 5% will be deducted from your retirement pension every month until you pass away.
What happens to your pension when you pass away?
When you pass away, your survivor will get 50% of your regular monthly pension – which would be $500 a month. ***If your survivor is someone other than your spouse – your cost may be higher than 10% – but the benefit amount to your survivor would be the same.***.
What is a FERS pension?
FERS Survivor Annuity / Pension. When you retire, you have the option of providing a survivor an nuity. This means that when you die, your survivor will continue to receive a portion of your pension every month. There are three different survivor annuity options you can choose…. Full FERS Survivor Annuity – 50% of Your Pension.
What is the full survivor annuity?
The first thing you need to know about the “full” survivor annuity benefit is only 50% of your regular monthly pension. Because it is called the “full” survivor benefit – some people think this means their survivor continues to get the full pension – but this is not the case.
How long do you have to change your FERS annuity?
You have a 12 month window after you retire to make changes to your FERS survivor annuity choices. After that time has passed – you will only be allowed to make changes in the event of marriage/divorce or death of the survivor.
What happens if a former employee dies and no survivor annuity is payable?
If a former employee dies and no survivor annuity is payable, the retirement contributions remaining to the deceased person’s credit in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, plus applicable interest, are payable. This lump sum is payable under the order of precedence.
What happens if a court order awards part of the total survivor annuity to a former spouse
If a court order awards part of the total survivor annuity to a former spouse, the current spouse will receive the remainder. If the former spouse loses entitlement because of death or remarriage before age 55, the current spouse may begin to receive the full annuity.
How long does a FERS employee have to serve to receive a recurring payment?
If a FERS employee dies, recurring monthly payments may be made to the surviving spouse if the deceased employee completed at least 10 years of creditable service (18 months of which must be civilian service)
How long does a spouse have to be married to receive a death benefit?
The Basic Employee Death Benefit may be payable to a former spouse (in whole or in part), if a qualifying court order, awarding a benefit, is on file at OPM and the former spouse was married to the deceased for a total of at least nine months and did not remarry before reaching age 55.
How long do you have to be married to receive a survivor annuity?
To qualify for the monthly benefit. The surviving spouse must have been married to the employee for at least nine months. If the death occurred before nine months, a survivor annuity may still be payable if. the employee’s death was accidental, or. there was a child born of the marriage.
How long does a spouse have to be married to a deceased employee?
If a former employee who dies with at least 10 years of creditable service (5 years of which must be creditable civilian service) is survived by a spouse who was married to the deceased at the time of his/her separation from Federal civilian service AND who: was married to the deceased for at least nine months, or.
How long does a spouse have to be married to an employee who died?
the current spouse was married to the employee for at least nine months (if the death was accidental or there was a child born of your marriage to the employee, the nine month requirement does not apply).
